The basic message is one that people will likely hear again many, many times prior to Feb. 9 of next year.

That will be the last day voters will be able to mail back ballots and have a say on three money issues being floated by the Northshore School District.

While school officials cannot directly campaign in favor of the issues, Superintendent Larry Francois gave a detailed explanation of each measure to about 100 of what the district calls its “Key Communicators” during a Nov. 17 luncheon at the school-district’s Bothell headquarters.

“Key Communicators” include local elected officials, school volunteer leaders, teachers and others involved with the district.

The schools are seeking voter renewals of an existing education operations support levy, along with an existing technology levy. The third ballot issue would authorize a capital improvement bond sale Francois described as a continuation of district efforts to upgrade and maintain its buildings.

As he has in the past, Francois described the support levy as critical, representing 20 percent of the district’s operating dollars. Last approved by voters in 2006, it expires at the end of 2010 and represents Northshore’s second largest revenue source, Francois added.

The largest money source is, he said, the state, but he also noted several times that dollars from Olympia have been drastically reduced and are likely to dry up even further.

Francois said that among many other items, the levy — which would bring in $164 million over the next four years — helps pay for smaller class sizes, special-education services, transportation and curriculum updates.

Timothy Brittell is president of the Northshore Education Association, basically the district teachers union. He told the crowd the loss of the operation levy dollars could mean the loss of well over 400 teachers and some 600 other employees. He said class sizes would explode.

“You might as well start building lofts in the classrooms,” Brittell said, arguing there is virtually no floor space left in most buildings.

Voters also last passed the technology level in 2006 and it too expires in 2010. Francois talked about maintaining a 5:1 ratio of students to computers, installing new classroom technology and providing teacher training focusing on the use of technology. It would provide about $24 million over the next four years.

The bond issue would raise $144 million to be paid back over the next decade or so. Francois said it would pay for numerous physical improvements and renovation projects at schools throughout the Northshore district. Two major projects include improvements to Woodinville High and Kenmore Junior High.

In Kenmore, the bonds would fund replacement of 16 classrooms that are 47 years old, along with music, technology and shop areas, as well as the school library and cafeteria. Elsewhere in the district, the bond would pay for new roofs, flooring and heating and cooling equipment.

Of course, how much all this would cost the average homeowner is bound to become a common question. The district estimates the measure will add $4.07 to every $1,000 in property valuation from 2011 to 2014. For a home valued at $400,000 in 2010, the issues would cost that homeowner $48.84 in 2011 and up to $53.37 in 2014.

Some questions from last week’s audience revolved around further school budget cuts if the measures pass. District officials trimmed roughly $6.4 million in expenditures this school year. Francois also was asked if passage of the February issues would mean some eliminated programs might return.

As for further cuts, Francois said there was no way to answer that question as Olympia could reduce education funding even more. The answer was “no” in regard to the return of eliminated programs. Francois said passage of the operations levy in particular simply would allow the district to maintain its current service levels.

The district will pay upwards of $80,000 to King and Snohomish counties for holding the election. The bond measure will need a super-majority of 60 percent of voters to pass. Additionally, 40 percent of those voters must have cast ballots in the November election.

For the renewal levies, Francois said a simple positive majority will equal passage.