At the Nov. 9 meeting of the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors, Superintendent Chip Kimball presented his recommendations for funding measures to place on the Feb. 9 ballot. His proposal includes a four-year Educational Programs and Operations Levy, a four-year Capital Projects Levy including both facilities and technology items, and a new bond measure that would modernize Juanita High School, provide space for expected enrollment growth, and prevent the associated overcrowding.
Dr. Kimball noted that his proposal reflects a public input process that gathered information on what to place on the ballot. Six public meetings were held. Online web input was sought as well. The information from the total input process, combining web and in-person input, was provided to a community advisory committee, which made a recommendation to Dr. Kimball.
The Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy would renew the current levy, which provides over 19 percent of the district’s general fund revenues and will expire at the end of 2010. This measure approves a specific amount that the district can collect, which is capped by state law. The total amount under the proposal ranges from $46.5 million in 2011 to $56.5 million in 2014. That would translate to a tax rate of $1.30 per thousand of assessed value in 2011 to $1.41 per thousand of assessed value in 2014.
“The EP&O Levy is an integral part of our school district’s operations,” noted Dr. Kimball. “It helps pay for everything from textbooks to teacher training to transportation, safety and security. It pays for many of the basics our schools need every day.”
The Capital Projects Levy has two components, including facilities items and technology items, and would replace the current capital projects levy that will expire at the end of 2010. The facilities portion of the proposed renewal levy protects the taxpayer investment in our schools by replacing major systems, like roofs, flooring or heating systems, at appropriate times through the life of each school building. It also pays for safety and accessibility improvements. Other items that can help the district continue to reduce utility costs through energy and water conservation are included.
The second component to the capital projects levy pays for technology items that:
· help students learn, like research databases and educational software;
· help teachers help students learn, like electronic whiteboards that engage students in learning;
· help parents be more involved in their student’s education, like online access to grades and attendance, and
· help district staff work efficiently, like productivity software.
The levy pays for replacement of current technology when it reaches the end of its useful life. This levy also pays for teacher and staff training so that the purchased technologies are put to their best uses.
The total cost of the capital projects levy renewal would range from $19.6 million in 2011 to $22 million in 2014. That amount is expected to generate a tax rate of $.55 per thousand of assessed value each year.
A new bond measure would:
· provide equity in its high school facilities by moving up the modernization of Juanita High School by four years;
· prevent overcrowding and overuse of portables by providing space where growth is occurring on the eastern side of the district;
· enable the district’s change to a four-year high school configuration.
Growth projections based on demographic information, development information and space needs for expanding programs like all-day kindergarten show that the district will need more space by 2014. The planned change to a four-year high school configuration means that two new elementary schools, additions at Redmond High and Eastlake High School and expansion of Environmental and Adventure School will provide the needed space for growth and for changing grade configuration at the same time.
When the last modernization bond was passed in 2006, it was a very close call on whether to modernize Lake Washington High School or Juanita High School during this eight-year modernization phase. Both buildings were in comparably poor condition, though the determination was made the Lake Washington High School had greater need. Now that the new Lake Washington High School is being built, the district will soon have three modern high school buildings and one that is 38 years old. Construction costs are relatively low now and construction jobs are needed in this area. If the bond measure passes, Juanita High would not be included in the planned 2014 modernization measure, the third phase of the district’s comprehensive modernization plan.
The cost of the new bond measure, which would raise $234 million, would cost $.33 per thousand in assessed value. The total of all three measures would increase the total tax paid on a home with the average assessed value in the district from $1444 in 2010 to $1606 in 2011.
“These proposals reflect the real needs of our school district at this time,” said Kimball. “We recognize the economic realities and in fact have made sure the capital projects levy, if passed, would pay for items that will reduce costs to our general fund over the long term. While the bond measure would be an additional cost, I feel obligated to lay before the voters the choice of paying that cost or having overcrowded elementary schools and inequity among our high school facilities.”
