UPDATED: King County Lowers Assessed Values / LWSD Planning $621.4 M Levy

 Good news is the King County Assessor is lowering assessed values in 2024 by ~20%.  Bad news is there could be a rush by local governments and agencies to float Bond and Levy measures this year.  

Case in point:  EvergreenHealth is planning a Bond measure to increase much needed beds. 

LWSD is planning a 2024 $621.4 million levy measure for school construction needs. These needs include both adding new student space and replacing aging facilities. This levy provides funding to build critical classroom space across our district and addresses aging schools:

Elementary Schools: Rebuild and expand Alcott Elementary and Smith Elementary, Add a new elementary school in Lake Washington area. Middle School: Rebuild or expand Kamiakin Middle School.  High School:  Build a fifth comprehensive high school.  Other:  Refurbish Juanita fieldhouse/pool, Add space for early learning. High School: Build a fifth comprehensive high school.  Other:  Refurbish Juanita fieldhouse/pool.

Lake Washington School District Capital Projects, Sign Up For Updates

Juanita High School 2021 construction, Internet 

Sign up for updates on Lake Washington School District capital projects and the "Connection" newsletter:  

• Redmond Middle School - Building updates
• Rockwell Elementary - Rebuild & remodel updates
• Eastside High School - Additional Capacity updates
• Kirkland Middle School - Addition updates
• Finn Hill Middle School - Addition updates
• Westside Area - Additional Capacity updates
• Connection Newsletter
• School Board updates

"Connections" is not exclusive to parents:  feel free to forward it on to others who might want to subscribe, such as a grandparent or interested neighbor.

Read how and where the District's capital projects are funded  District taxpayers passed bond/levy measures in:  1998, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2019, 2022.

-- Source:  LWSD website

Superintendent And School Board Planning Future Bond Measures

Future bonds are planned for 2022 and 2026. 

LWSD announcement: 

The year 2019 was one to remember: We celebrated the grand openings of Timberline Middle School and the newly rebuilt Peter Kirk and Margaret Mead elementary schools. Progress continued on the remaining 2016 bond projects: Juanita High School and Old Redmond Schoolhouse. Construction also began on the addition at Lake Washington High School, funded by the Capital Projects Levy passed by voters in April 2019.

Thank you to the communities of Lake Washington School District. With your ongoing support, we are providing students with great places to learn! Watch the video.

Facility Advisory Committee Update A new Facility Advisory Committee (FAC) began working in November 2019. This group will make recommendations for future facility planning, informed by enrollment trends, community expectations and district programs. The facility strategy will align with the District’s strategic plan and make recommendations to accommodate our rapid enrollment growth and continue to provide quality learning environments.

The Superintendent and School Board will consider these recommendations as it plans for future ballot measures to fund construction. The FAC will open its first community survey at the end of January. Watch for more information on the Facility Advisory Committee page of the LWSD website.

-- LWSD "Building on Success" publication

Questions?  Contact Shannon Parthemer at sparthemer@lwsd.org 

Lake Washington School District, "follow the money"

"In November 2005, the Board passed Resolution No. 1969 authorizing a special election on February 7, 2006 in order to propose the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $436 million. The bonds were to be used for Phase II of the district’s modernization program which modernized 11 schools and built one new school (Carson Elementary). The bond election passed, and the district proceeded to sell $425 million of the bonds over the next six years to complete the projects. The projects were completed on time and under budget.

In October 2014, the Board passed Resolution No. 2196 authorizing the remaining bond proceeds and State Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) funds to be redirected to additional projects to serve the district’s growing enrollment. These short-term capacity projects included portables, upgrades to classrooms, an addition, future bond planning, internal building modifications, and property acquisition. After completion of these projects, there is approximately $24 million of SCAP funds remaining.

In October 2018, the Board passed Resolution No. 2257 authorizing the sale of the remaining $11 million of the bonds approved by voters in February 2006. Of this combined $31 million, $7 million will be used for portables. The remaining $24 million, plus the $120 million voter approved April 2019 Capital Projects levy, will be used for the district’s critical capacity projects

These projects include an addition to Lake Washington High School; auxiliary gym and commons expansions; classroom additions to Carson, Franklin, Rose Hill, and Twain elementary schools; and district-wide upgrades to building safety and security measures.

In order to redirect the unspent bond funds and unallocated state matching funds on additional projects, it is necessary for the board to hold a public hearing and adopt a resolution modifying the original bond resolution. A public hearing has been scheduled for May 6. Action on the adopting the resolution will be placed on the May 20 agenda.

RECOMMENDATION The Board of Directors holds a public hearing regarding redirecting of bond proceeds and matching funds as outlined in Resolution No. 2270."

-- LWSD website
    School Board meeting packet, 5/6/2019
   Bob Yoder, 5/6/2019

LWSD to Place Capital Projects Levy on April Ballot

At its December 3 meeting, Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD) Board of Directors passed Resolution No. 2259 to place a Capital Projects Levy on the April 23, 2019 ballot. This measure, if passed, authorizes a six-year levy totaling $120 million or an average of $20 million per year for six years.

Levy funds would pay for critical projects to address rapid enrollment growth and student safety and security. Proposed projects include: classroom additions at Lake Washington High School, including auxiliary gyms and commons; classroom additions at Carson Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Rose Hill Elementary, and Twain Elementary, including expansion of core facilities where feasible; and support student safety by adding exterior security cameras at elementary schools and create entry modifications for security at Eastlake, Redmond and Lake Washington High Schools. (Juanita High School’s entry modifications will be added during the current construction project.) 

According to Shannon Parthemer, LWSD Communications Director "The April Capital Projects Levy includes permanent (brick and mortar) classroom additions at four elementary schools (Carson Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Rose Hill Elementary and Twain Elementary) and Lake Washington High School. These are not portables."

Source:  LWSD.org

Updated: LW School District hit hard by higher State property taxes

Argument FOR

Argument AGAINST

Results:  Proposition #1-- Replacement Education and Operations Levy       YES by 65% of vote
Results:  Proposition #2-- Replacement of Existing Capital Projects Levy      YES by 55% of vote
Results:  $299M Bond --- 54% Yes; 46% No;  60% supermajority required             NO by 6%

My King County state property taxes increased 18% this year.  My Education Hill home is 2020 sf.

FACTOIDS:
EvergreenHealth is a public hospital district:  Their tax represents 3.3% of total King County property taxes or $200.42/ year.  

ST-3 is a Transit tax.  Their tax represents 2.3% of King County property taxes or $140/year.

B. Yoder

LETTER: Vote 'Yes' for LWSD Levies and Bond. A very good investment.

This February, you will be asked to vote on 3 measures for the Lake Washington School District (LWSD).  On behalf of the 29,572 students in LWSD, most of whom are not eligible to vote for their educational resources and opportunity, I humbly ask you to vote YES on all 3 measures.  It is a wise investment not just for our students and families, but for our community’s quality of life.  We are quite fortunate to have a strong public school system, and voting Yes this February can keep it that way.   I truly believe that a strong school system helps develop capable children who will be our helpers and leaders in the community for years to come. 

Proposition 1, the Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O), replaces an expiring levy.  The EP&O Levy funds 19.2% of LWSD’s operating budget, including essential staff and programs in place such as substitute teachers, Special Education, Highly Capable programs, English Language learning, nurses, early learning, teacher training, and athletics.   As the state will be increasing its investment in education for all districts across the state, LWSD was able to reduce the amount requested locally and therefore will REDUCE its local tax rate for this levy.   By voting Yes on Prop 1, you are voting to maintain the strong schooling LWSD offers today.  The state’s approach is not meant to cover 100% of programs, that’s why local levies will continue to exist.  To be accountable to taxpayers, the state legislature set a limit for local school districts to collect on this levy, and LWSD has taken this even further to collect $41.6M LESS than the amount authorized by the state.  To maintain what LWSD offers today, we need to vote YES and pass this Levy.  [Read "MORE" to learn about the other levy and capital bond.]

Redmond City Hall Ballot Drop Box is Open!

Redmond City Hall  - Next to the Library -  15670 NE 85th Street

24-hour Ballot Drop Boxes Are Open Now!

CAST YOUR BALLOT AT THE CITY OF REDMOND BALLOT DROP BOX!

CONVENIENT DRIVE-THROUGH! 

AVOID THE WEATHER!

SHORTER LINES THAN THE POST OFFICE!

NO STAMPS!

DROP BOXES CLOSE AT 8PM, 11/6.

There's another drop box at Crossroads Shopping Center, South Entrance
IF YOU MAIL:  One First Class stamp is required, postmarked by November 6.
Republished:  11/1/2012

'LWSD's First Assignment for 2012' - Conduct a facilities inventory and audit of classroom space, with Superintendent oversight

Is this is a classroom?  Can it be a classroom?   (LWSD photo)

OPINION:  LWSD’S FIRST ASSIGNMENT FOR 2012 – Do a facilties inventory and find out how much classroom space the school district really has. 

By Susan Wilkins
Redmond, WA.

UPDATED:  How much space does the Lake Washington School District have at its 31 elementary, 12 junior high and 8 high schools? How many classrooms are there and how many students can each school hold? How many students can all of the district’s schools hold? These are important questions considering we were just asked to spend $65,000,000 to build additional space for high school students.  Superintendent oversight is required.

The answers to these questions about classroom space can be found on page 24 in the district’s “Six-Year Capital Facilities Plan 2011-2016.” (This document can be found at http://www.lwsd.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/For-The-Community/Construction/Capital-Facility-Plan.pdf ) On a single page, the district counts all the classrooms in all the schools and then multiplies by the number of students each classroom can hold and then figures out the total capacity of the district’s facilities.
The trouble with this accounting system is that it is too simple. It assumes that if a classroom is used for an activity other than regular classroom teaching, it should not be counted in the inventory. If a classroom is used for Music, Computers, Art, ELL, preschool or even storage, it is not included in the total number of classrooms in a school.

Let’s look at Rockwell Elementary... Read More >>

OPINION: Redmond High School Expansion costs $18,600,000 - Adds Only 14 Classrooms

RHS Expansion:  14 classrooms, 4 portables, small gym, staff parking

$18,600,000 REDMOND HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSION - Each Classroom costs one million dollars,  By Susan Wilkins

OPINION:  Everybody remember the dire warnings last January before the Lake Washington School District special election? If we didn’t approve the $65 million levy for additional classroom space then our schools will be so overcrowded that there would be double shifting at the high schools and portable classrooms!

The levy was approved in the February 8, 2011 election and the school district started plans to build the new schools right away. The election mailings sent out by the district projected that enrollment would increase from 24,500 to 27,000 in just a few years.

After the predictions of exploding student population growth and overcrowding, the Redmond High School Expansion will add only a small gym and 14 classrooms to the school: 11 classrooms, 2 science labs and 1 art room. At maximum capacity, that’s enough additional space for 448 students.  READ MORE >>

Lake Washington School District teachers dodge pay cut, extend year

Lake Washington School District teachers dodge pay cut, extend year : The Sammamish Review

"Lake Washington School District teachers dodge pay cut, extend year

July 6, 2011
By Caleb Heeringa

Lake Washington School District teachers will dodge the pay cuts coming to thousands of teachers around the state, but local taxpayers will be footing the bill.

The district has reached agreement with the Lake Washington Education Association, which represents the district’s teachers, to maintain current salaries despite a 1.9 percent cut in the state’s contributions to teacher pay. That money will be made up in part by an estimated 10 cents per $1,000 in assessed value increase in the district’s maintinence and operations levy – money that had been approved by local voters but until recently had been limited by state school funding law." Read More >>

Editorial: A Season To Change

Don't blink now!   Vote FOR the LWSD levy by Februay 8!



A Season to Change

Editorial
Photo by Yoder

LETTER: "STEM Education is the primary focus of my job"; will bring ideas home to RHS, By MIke Town

On April, 2010  Mike Town said good-bye to
students and faculty at RHS to work for the NSF.
 Mike and Meg will return home from D.C. August, 2011 to
 the beauty of NW mountains and rivers.  

Special thanks to a reader who asked the meaning of "STEM": Science,Technology, Engineering, and Math education.

From the desk of Mike Town...

For years I have read the Blog and this is the first chance I have had to respond to a request from Bob to update the readers on what is happening to Meg and me on our adventures in Washington DC. If you follow the blog you may know that I have taught science for 25 years at Redmond High School. Meg has taught for almost as long with the last 6 years at Redmond Junior High School. Over the past decade my main teaching responsibilities have included teaching Advanced Placement Environmental Science and a course in Environmental Engineering and Sustainability Design (which we will be offering at RHS again next year).

This year I accepted an Einstein Fellowship in Washington, DC working with the National Science Board which oversees the National Science Foundation. So last August Meg and I left our solar powered house and moved to Arlington.

The NSF, which was founded in 1950, funds a significant portion of science research in the United States. One of the agency’s mandates is STEM Education from kindergarten to the PhD level. These days STEM education reform is a hot issue. It should be. As many of you know... Read more >>

Redmond High School PTSA endorses levy measure

PLEASE VOTE FOR THE LWSD LEVY. The Lake Washington School District is facing overcrowding at all levels in our schools, including at RHS. In response, the District has placed a levy measure on the ballot on February 8th. The levy measure will fund additional space at RHS, as well as other needed improvements. The RHS PTSA has endorsed this measure and urges your support. Want to learn more? Please read about levy myths and facts.
 
Redmond High School PTSA
Mustang Weekly, 1/31

LETTER: Why vote "Yes" for $65M expansion when District has $200M to spend?

LETTER:  In 1997 the district completed the “Study and Survey of School Facilities” and evaluated each of its existing schools for modernization or replacement. Per WAC 125-25-025, each school facility and its major systems and subsystems were to be evaluated based on the condition of deterioration and the cost of restoration vs. the cost of replacement. As a result, each school in the Lake Washington School District was placed in one of 4 phases for modernization/replacement based on an 8-year cycle. Although the list of schools assigned to each of four phases is still available, the original report detailing the condition of the facilities, the cost analysis, and other factors that determining decisions made by the facilities committee has not been found.

In February 1998, voters approved a bond measure for the “modernization” of the first 11 schools in Phase I. At that time, modernization still meant renovation, and the first two schools on the list, Audubon Elementary and Lakeview Elementary, were remodeled and updated. All schools since then have been torn down and rebuilt.

Phase I – 1998 Bond Measure for $160,000,000:
2000 - Audubon Elementary – $7,000,000 (remodel and updated)
2001 - Lakeview Elementary – $5,000,000 (remodel and expansion)
2000 - Twain Elementary –cost: unavailable
2002 - Redmond Junior High – $23,488,811
2003 - Horace Mann Elementary – $11,683,439
2003 - Thoreau Elementary – $11,052, 075
2003 - Redmond High School – $53,000,000
2004 - Kirkland Junior High – $15,489,298
2005 - Juanita Elementary – $9,666,000
2006 - Franklin Elementary –$9,899,672
2006 - Rose Hill Elementary – $10,712,410

Phase II - 2006 Bond Measure for $436,000,000:

2008 - Carson Elementary – $19,100,000 (New)
2009 - Frost Elementary – $19,100,000
2010 - Finn Hill Junior High – $29,679,028
2011 - Lake Washington High School – $58,700,000+ (final cost: tbd)  READ MORE
2011 - Muir Elementary –Bid: 18,300,000
2011 - Ben Rush Elementary – cost: tbd
2012 – Bell Elementary – cost: tbd
2012 – Keller Elementary – cost: tbd
2012 – Sandburg Elementary – cost: tbd
2013 - Rose Hill Junior High – cost: tbd
2013 – Community Elementary – cost: tbd
2013 – International Community School (ICS) – cost: tbd

It’s interesting to note that the cost of rebuilding an elementary school was about $10,000,000 during Phase I, but the three elementary schools that have been built or bid during Phase II cost nearly twice as much. The Phase II school buildings have become more architecturally elaborate and complex with three-story atriums, catwalks, soaring ceilings, walls of glass, and natural stone. These features are to be expected in a hotel or shopping mall, not in our schools and not paid for with our tax dollars!

The school district wants us to believe that money from the bond measures is for “modernization” while money from the upcoming levy is for “expansion” and somehow these two are separate and unrelated.  READ MORE 

Lake Washington School District Graded as High Return on Investment

Superintendent Chip Kimball

Lake Washington School District Graded as High Return on Investment

National study compares academic achievement per dollar spent

Redmond, Wash. – A national study of school district efficiency placed Lake Washington School District among those in the state of Washington with high achievement and low cost. Return on Educational Investment: A district-by-district evaluation of U.S. educational productivity gave Lake Washington its highest rating on “Basic ROI,” a measure that compared academic achievement per dollar spent, adjusting for concentrations of low-income, non-English-speaking and special education students.

The Center for American Progress study reviewed standardized test scores and expenditures for school districts with more than 250 students nationwide. Within each state, it placed school districts in three tiers for adjusted cost per student and achievement. Lake Washington was placed in the top tier for high achievement and the top tier for lowest cost.

LETTER: District needs dialogue with voters - leading toward revenue plan

Why are there so many different, independent requests for more revenue for the school district?

LETTER:  In a recent letter from the district president and district director, they described that this is a "unique" request; not like the others. If my memory serves me correctly, there is a steady stream of requests for more revenue, but I have never seen a comprehensive plan or description of the need in any form that makes sense to me.

Why is every request a 'crisis'? Are the demographics in the area so unpredictable that planning is not possible? In the business environment, this would be viewed as the result of poor strategic planning.  

By Howard Fraiser
Redmond, WA.

READ MORE

UPDATED: President Pendergrass explains some of the "jobs and duties" of the School Board

"The job of the Board is to represent the citizens and to lead the organization by asking critical questions and by determining and demanding appropriate and excellent organizational performance." (LWSD By-Laws)

January 24, Regular meeting notes: 
In the January 24 School Board Meeting, Jackie Pendergrass was re-elected President and Ravi Shahani was re-elected Vice President by thel Board.

Just prior to the Consent Agenda (passed unanymously), President Pendergrass expressed, "I guess for our pubic", some comments about the jobs and duties of the school board, as follows:

"...none of us really has a power as a Board Director"

"...being President for this organization is really helping to run the agenda, the meetings that we have and then being avaibalble to discuss anything they (the Board members) have that may come up..."

"...we can't make decisions on our own that represent the Board, especially in our business"

"...we certainly represent the community and we listen to the community but we can't make decisions on our own, it takes the majority of the board..."

No one explained how the Board  represents the community as a single entity or as individuals.

Pres. Pendergrass and Dir. Bernard indivdually co-authored a Letter to local media outlets, yesterday advocating the levy.  It wasn't signed by all the Directors.

Watch and listen to President Pendergrass's entire talk (before the Consent Agenda) here

Reported By Bob Yoder
Photo By Yoder
Source:  Regular meeting of the School Board, 1/24 - personal attendence and video archive.

Capital Projects Levy Voter's Pamphlet!



24-hour ballot drop box open now
at Redmond City Hall

 Lake Washington School District paid $17,000 for a Voter's Pamphlet to help educate the voters on the levy for "overcrowding".  When you open your ballot, if you look really hard, you will find the phamplet text on the back side of the purple Fact Sheet. 

For your convenience, the text and audio versions of the Voter's Phamplet are linked below:

Audio: Voter's Pamphlet - "Statement in Favor" of Proposition No. 1, Capital Projects Levy (No Statement in opposition filed.)

Text: Voter's Pamphlet - "Statement in Favor" of Proposition No. 1, Capital Projects Levy (No Statement in opposition filed.)

Please forward this phamplet to your neighbors or tell them where they can find it.

Reported by Yoder

Source:  www.kingcounty.gov//elections
February 8, midnight deadline for voting by post
February 8, 8PM deadline for voting by drop box

LETTER: Increased enrollment is not an anomaly - the levy is needed to create space

LETTER:  My husband and I live in the Juanita community and we strongly urge Lake Washington School District residents to vote YES for the district’s February 8th capital levy.

Maintaining our excellent schools is important to the quality of life in our community and to our children’s futures. If our children choose to live here when they are adults, we hope they’ll find this is a stable community and still a great place to raise a family.

The levy is needed to pay for new classroom space and a new school to accommodate the district’s sudden increase this past year in enrollment after a decade of almost no growth. The increase is no anomaly; the enrollment is expected to continue to climb.