UPDATE, 12/11/25: New School Board Deliberates on Electric Busses

 

(l-r) Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen, President Lisa Guthrie, VP Eric Laliberte, Angela Meekhof, Aspen Richter, Lindsey Yocum (government affaires) and two student representatives, Hoe and Reddy.  

BIO's HERE.

My wife and I went to the swearing in ceremony for Aspen Richter and Angela and stayed for their business meeting.  Sustainability was their focus and priority.  There was much talk about electric buses; and including them as part of their 136 bus fleet.  Grant money for four e-buses was awarded to serve four schools with low-income students. They are operating.  Apparently, no further grant money for e-buses will be available for LWSD;  ~ $300,000- $400,000/ bus was quoted.  There was no discussion of funding e-busses with the Capital Technology levy.  Though, in 2001 LWSD passed a transportation levy.  

LEVY UPDATE:

Every four years the Educational and Operations (EP&O) and Capital Technology and Facilities levies are up for renewal.  The board took formal action to approve a Lid-lift of these 2026 levies at their meeting on October 6, 2025. These replacement levies will be placed on the February 10, 2026, ballot.

Currently, 16% of the Lake Washington School District budget is funded by these two "replacement" levies.  The school board is proposing a special "excess" increase (that will be baked in for years) in the 2026 levy ask owing to: 

• loss of federal funding 5%. (total funding is currently $1.3M)
• new sales tax on services
• salary step increase
• increased compensation
• 8% inflation growth 

EP&O tax increases of $180/year on $1.5M assessed property value ($.97/$1,000 property value)   

Capital Technology and Facilities tax increase of $45/year on $1.5M assessed property value ($.44/$1,000 property value.)  

REF:  final pages of  the "Levy Renewals" slide deck

Aspen Richter Wins LWSD Director #4

Aspen Richter

Aspen Richter is running for Position #4 of the LWSD Board of Directors and has broad support from the community.  I first met Aspen at a "Move Redmond" luncheon; she always has her notebook with her to record salient points.  She likes to "move around" on her e-bike; and avoid guzzling cars!   

Environmental sustainablity at LWSD is a big thing for Aspen.  Below, are some personal notes of her accomplishments:  

Lake Washington PTSA Council Sustainability Chair, 2023-2025.

While Chair, I focused on bringing both district employees and sustainability chairs from the various school PTSAs together to exchange information and strengthen our sustainability efforts. 

I also collaborated with Matt Gillingham (Deputy Superintendent of Operations & Legal Affairs) to hold a linkage session for the board's draft sustainability policy with PTSA chairs, parents, students, and teachers.  I'm looking forward to what 2025-2026 brings for our environmental efforts in LWSD!

I am on the LWSD advisory committees for:

1) Sustainability

2) Facilities: I joined because of the financial and environmental impact of our buildings, and because I had children at two of the schools slated for rebuild from the proceeds of the 2024 levy.

3) Levy: A temporary committee in the spring and summer of 2025, because levies are how we fund facility improvements such as solar panels, switching to electric boilers, and installation of ground-source heat pumps to reduce our environmental impact. The levy committee is one I take very seriously, because the purpose of levy funds---funding our schools---is incredibly important and also because I am aware the end result is very real for property owners in LWSD.

Enrollment Declining At Lake Washington School District

Fewer students in elementary leads to an eventual decline in secondary schools.

The School Board is proposing a $676.9 million, 6-year construction levy this year. If passed, 2 elementary schools and 2 middle schools will be rebuilt and enlarged.

"WHY IS ENROLLMENT DECLINING in our schools even with so much construction going on in the district?  

ANSWER:  "The district is tracking over 9,500 residential units opening within the next 10 years. The majority of the new construction is now multi-family housing (apartments, condominiums, townhomes) rather than single-family. Multi-family housing units do not generate as many students as single family homes do. Multi-family housing generates about seven students for every 100 units vs. a single-family development that generates about 60 students for every 100 homes. This housing growth is certainly offsetting what could be larger enrollment declines. The other reason for the decline is a decline in birth rates. Birth rates are down for Lake Washington area, King County, and across the country. This results in lower kindergarten enrollment and fewer students enrolling at the elementary level. Fewer students in elementary leads to an eventual decline in secondary, even though secondary school enrollment is currently not declining in the same way." 

Source:  LWSD Demographics, FAQ 

Posted by Bob Yoder, 6/3/2024