Local levies and bonds provide high quality educational opportunities our families and community believe are essential for the success of Lake Washington students.
Message from Lake Washington School District Superintendent, Dr. Traci Pierce
February 13 Election Results
February 13 election night results are in. Over 50% of Lake Washington School District voters approved both the Educational Programs and Operations Levy and the Capital Projects Levy. This means that both levies are passing! We are grateful and pleased with the support from our community. As a result, we will be able to continue to provide high quality educational programs and staff; technology access; and warm, safe, and dry facilities for our students and staff.
While over 50% of voters also approved the bond measure, sadly, it is not passing. Bonds require 60% voter approval to pass.
Had it passed, the bond measure would have funded new school buildings and classroom space we need to accommodate our growing student enrollment. Lake Washington is rapidly growing by about 700 students per year. All of our students need a place to learn, and funding for school construction must come from the local community. The state does not provide districts with funding for school buildings and classrooms.
In 2015, a Long-Term Facilities Planning Task Force developed a recommendation for the building projects needed to accommodate district growth. A series of four bond measures were to provide funding for the projects. The first of the four planned bond measures passed in 2016, and a number of construction projects are underway as a result. The February 13 bond measure was the second of the four planned bond measures.
Since this bond did not pass, we will need to work to develop a plan to move forward. All of our students still need a place to learn. In 2015, The Long-Term Facilities Planning Task Force developed recommendations for alternate scenarios and options if the district could not garner enough community support for bond measures. In the months ahead, the Board of Directors and I will analyze different scenarios and options to ensure that all of our students have a place to learn.
While the 2018 bond measure did not pass, we remain committed to providing our students with the best educational experiences possible. Again, we are grateful and pleased that our levies are passing!
I know that many parents and community members worked very hard to support the measures. Thank you for all your effort, dedication, and ongoing commitment to Lake Washington and our students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Traci Pierce, Superintendent Lake Washington School District
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Rep. Vandana Slatter48th District, WA House of Representatives
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Lisa WellmanWA State Senator, 41st District
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Rep. Larry Springer45th District, WA House of Representatives
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Suzan DelBeneCongresswoman, Washington’s 1st Congressional District
Congresswoman DelBene supports the 2018 Lake Washington Bond and Levy measures.
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Manka DhingraSenator, 45th District
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Patty KudererWA State Senator, 48th District
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Joan McBrideWashington State Representative - 48th District
Rep McBride endorses the February 2018 LWSD Bond and Levy measures.
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Roger GoodmanWashington State Representative - 45th District
Rep Goodman endorses the February 2018 LWSD Bond and Levy measures.
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Rep. Shelley Kloba1st District, WA House of Representatives
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Judy ClibbornWA State Representative, 41st District
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Hank MyersCity Councilmember, City of Redmond
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Jon PascalCouncilmember, City of Kirkland
I participated on the LWSD Long-range Facilities Task Force and I believe the bond measure reflects the recommendations of that open and transparent community process, and more importantly, provides the facility resources our kids need to have the educational experience they deserve.Providing the classroom space and resources to serve our growing student population is absolutely critical to maintaining our quality of life, and ensuring our kids are ready for the future.
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Siri BliesnerDirector, District 5, Lake Washington School Board
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Pam StuartCouncilmember, City of Sammamish
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Amy WalenKirkland Mayor
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Christie MalchowMayor, City of Sammamish
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Toby NixonCouncil Member, City of Kirkland
None of us wants to pay even more taxes, on top of ST3 and everything else, but this is an important investment in our kids' future. New homes do pay impact fees, but they're not sufficient to build all the space needed to accommodate the growth we're seeing. LWSD has responsibly structured the building program so that the taxes for property owners remain flat while we add the needed space.
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Penny SweetCouncilmember, City of Kirkland
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Hank MargesonCouncilmember, City of Redmond
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Angela BirneyRedmond City Council Member