Opinion: Realities of the proposed $404,000,000 bond

Susan Wilkins said...

The proposed $404,000,000 bond measure is a HUGE amount of money. It just seems like a small amount when compared to the previous $755M bond measure. To suggest that it will cost taxpayers only $10/month or a couple cups of coffee to pay off is utterly ridiculous. Our school board rushed this bond measure and didn't bother to check their math. Their calculations are wrong! The bonds will cost nearly 4 times as much as the district states!

Intuitively, $404,000,000 paid back over 20 years will cost $20.2 million per year just to pay for the principal. With 4.25% interest, taxpayers will need to pay back about $30 million per year, about the same amount as the Capital Projects Levy that just passed or $.91/thousand in assessed value. So paying off $404 million will cost the owner of a $500,000 house about $450 per year or $40 per month, not $10/month.

Sammamish residents are the biggest losers with this bond measure. They get nothing! No additional elementary classroom space, no new eastside ICS choice school (as was promised), and no new middle or high school space.   Read More >>

What are the ramifications if the $404 Million bond fails?

During the last school board meeting...


School Board President Jackie Pendergrass asked what the price of the $404 million bond would cost the average taxpayer the first year, and staff came up with $10/month or "two coffees per month" according to Pendergrass.  Superintendent Traci Pierce ran down the following list of options staff would have at their disposal if the $404 million bond failed to pass:


1.  Reduce or eliminate all day kindigarden
2.  Double shifting (which would raise transportation and utility costs)
3.  Add portables wherever possible at $300,000/portable.  (The district is adding the equivalent population of one elementary school every year for the next four years).
4.  Year round school
5.  Construction costs of future schools would go up.
6.  Variances would not become an option. 


Reported by Bob Yoder

Concerned citizens tell school board why they voted No on the bond

There were several concerned citizens who made public comment to the LWSD school board last Monday about why they voted against the bond.   One was Rick Whitney who's father was an elementary school principal his whole life, a pro schools person, and this was the first time he voted against a school bond in his life. 


Rick said the cost of new schools is excessive and the ever increasing tax burden put on us is unacceptable.  He agreed with the levy committee's statement that the district has a consistent record of accountability and stays within budget but with one exception.  Rick said "One key thing is missing in that statement. The school district needs to strive for cost efficiencies to deliver high performing schools at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayers.  That's what I think is missing and the disconnect that caused you to lose this bond vote." 


Mike was the second speaker to the podium, a father of two children who went to Peter Kirk and Lake Washington High School.  He was Chairman of the "Yes on 1 &2 Not 3"sign campaign organized by businesses.  As a real estate developer Mike was surprised to learn that Monroe High School could be built for 23 million dollars vs. the 94 million dollars it took to build Lake Washington High School.  He couldn't believe that Peter Kirk is scheduled for a tear down saying "it had centuries" of life left with proper maintenance.  He said the tearing down and rebuilding must end and a committee of citizens, architects and professional could find solutions.   Mike also had experience with the City of Kirkland Growth Management Committee that put together the Comprehensive Plan and Capital Facilities Plan years ago.


Reported by Bob Yoder  

When a "slow" market isn't really slow: the reality behind the Redmond real estate data

By KC Brants

Redfin Real Estate Agent

 

Redmond’s real estate market kicked off with a bang this year.  In January, home prices were up 18 percent and sales were up 6 percent compared with the same time in 2013. But homes were selling more slowly, spending an average of 32 days on the market. So if sales and prices were up, why were homes taking longer to sell? The answer has more to do with competition than anything else.  Read More >>

WIAA District 2 Dance Championship Competition at Redmond High

Redmond High School is hosting the WIAA District 2 Dance Championship Competition on Saturday March 15th. Over 15 high school dance teams will be competing for the district title in dance. Dance competition categories include hip-hop, pom, lyrical and military, among others. Redmond High's own dance team recently competed at the Eastlake High School district competition and took fourth place!

Come out and cheer on your favorite team at this event! There will be food, raffle prizes and amazing dance performances. Doors open at 12n, first performance will begin at 1pm. Adult ticket price is $7, Students and Senior Citizens, $5. Children under 6 are free. Any questions please contact Cathi Bibby at 4bibbys@comcast.net.

News from LWSD schools

Four high school students selected as candidates for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Nikhil Auradkar (Eastlake High School), Jack Eggleston (International Community School), Hannah Yang (Redmond High School) and Alex Zhou (Redmond High School) have been selected as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Sixty-seven students from around the state are candidates. These students will now complete applications for the chance to become Presidential Scholars. Each year, up to 141 students nationally are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. Read More >>

Redmond ranks 9th most exciting city to live in Washington State

As part of Movoto Real Estate’s efforts to find the best spots in every state, whether that be for retiring or stretching your dollars, we’re turning our Saturday Night Science on Washington to find which places there will really get the heart pounding. What did we find? The most electrifying, exhilarating, and yes, the most exciting city in The Evergreen State is Seattle. Still, Seattle wasn’t the only horse in this race. The city faced stiff competition to stand atop our pump-up podium. Here are the 10 most exciting places in Washington:
1. Seattle
2. Bellingham
3. Olympia
4. Mill Creek
5. Pullman
6. Vashon
7. Snoqualmie
8. Anacortes
9. Bremerton
9. Redmond
Not surprised with our No. 1 choice? What made Bellingham more exciting than Olympia? We know you have questions; we have answers. So, pull on your hiking boots, because we’re going to traverse the great state of Washington. First, however, you’ll need to know how we made our ranking—the secret knock to our ranking club, if you will.  Read More >>

LWSD Bond Fails - Proposition One and Two Pass

The final results are in at King County Elections and the LWSD Bond failed to pass by 2.21% of those voting.  Only 57.79% of those voting voted for the bond.  60% was needed.  The $775 Million price tag was just too much for the growing minority of voters to stomach.  The school board is meeting with staff to try to come up with an answer to the community.


Proposition One passed with 65% in favor.  Proposition Two passed with 64% in favor.  Only 30.74% of the registered voters in the District voted. 


Reported by Bob Yoder

Kathy Lambert to continue as Chair of County Council, Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee

Completion on 2014 Council reorganization includes appointments
to Budget and Transportation committees 

 

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert will remain Chair of the Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee as the Council completes its yearly reorganization with the appointment of the chairs of the Council’s standing committees.

“I enjoy chairing the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee as the issues we cover are ones that are important to King County and to me personally. Public Safety is one of our core responsibilities of county government and I’m privileged to serve in this area,” said Lambert.  Read More >>

Learn About Native Plants This Spring

The Washington Native Plant Society is now seeking applications for the Native Plant Stewardship Program in East and South King County. Participating cities in King County include: Kenmore, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Sammamish and SeaTac.

 

The 10-week training is held on Fridays from April 18 through June 27, 2014, in Bellevue. This training is taught by top professionals on various topics such as native plants, habitat restoration and northwest ecology. In exchange for this free training, stewards will commit to 100 hours of volunteer service implementing the skills learned in these classes.  Each Native Plant Steward team will be formed to work on designated habitat restoration projects in one of our partner communities and in King County Parks.  Read More >>

Attention Logging and Railroad Aficionados: Historian to Discuss 1920's Logging East of Redmond

As late as the 1920’s there were still many huge, old growth trees in the area east of Redmond and logging was dominated by the Siler Logging Company.  Felled trees were taken north by means of a specially-built 25 mile railroad that ran from Ames Lake to Bromart, just south of Snohomish.  Logging and railroad historian Eric Erickson will explore the Siler operations in detail on Saturday, March 8^th at 10:30am at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center in Redmond.  He is speaking as part of the Redmond Historical Society Saturday Speaker Series.   Read More >>

Imagine Overlake - Coming Soon

By Tom Hinman
Overlake is a shopping district adjoining Bellevue and Redmond neighborhoods that will be transformed over the next decade. Although Redmond is planning much of what will become the Overlake Village light-rail station area, developments in this community-to-be will be key to eastern Bellevue’s future as well.


Did you know that Sound Transit’s East Link station In Overlake Village will connect surrounding Bellevue neighborhoods to Seattle and connections north and south? This includes neighborhoods able to access the Overlake Village station from the north using a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge over SR 520.  Read More >>

NAMI Eastside Hosts Annual Children's Conference

NAMI Eastside, the East King County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is hosting a free children’s conference.  This year’s theme is “Understanding the Angry Child:  Strategies for Living with Emotional and Behavioral Health Disorders”.  The conference is free and will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2014, 9am-3:30pm at Northshore Baptist Church, 10301 NE 145th in Kirkland. 

The Keynote Address will be given by Linea Johnson and Cinda Johnson, authors of Perfect Chaos:  a daughter’s journey to survive bipolar, a mother’s struggle to save her.  They will share their story of Linea’s struggle with crippling bouts of suicidal depression and an eventual diagnosis of bipolar disorder, the various unsuccessful treatments including electroshock therapy, and the support of Linea’s family throughout.  Read More >>

Fundraiser for new playground at Redmond Elementary

Fundraiser for new playground at Redmond Elementary

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Friday, March 21 at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center.  Tickets & Details: http://www.gofundme.com/noodles.

REDMOND EL's PLAYGROUND IS A COMMUNITY ASSET.
- A safe gathering place for kids in our community.
- For many families nearby . . . the only outside place to play.

A PLAYGROUND FOR ALL SEASONS
- City of Redmond Community Center summer programs share it.
- Lake Washington Youth Soccer families use it in the fall.
- Redmond El students play on it all winter.
- Redmond West Little League families use it in the spring.  Read More >>

Seven Named as STEM Lighthouse Schools

Will receive $18,000 and serve as mentors to others

OLYMPIA — A total of seven schools will serve as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math mentors to other schools in the state.

Known as Lighthouse schools, the seven were recently awarded $18,000 grants each that will promote and develop STEM education, including technical assistance and advice for other middle schools and high schools that are creating their own STEM environments.

The seven schools are:

• Riverpoint Academy (Mead School District)
• Cascade K-8 Community School (Shoreline)
• Toppenish Middle School (Toppenish)
• STEM School (Lake Washington)
• Lakeside High School (Nine Mile Falls)
• Columbia Crest Elementary School (Eatonville)
• Franklin Pierce High School (Franklin Pierce)

“It’s a great honor to be chosen as a lighthouse schools,” said Randy Dorn, state superintendent. “It makes those schools leaders in STEM education. Other schools will look to the seven for guidance on how to successfully teach STEM…”

Initial election results are posted

The following initial special election results were posted this evening on the King County Elections web page.  Final results will be posted on February 25 at 4:30.




LWSD:  24.59% of the ballots were counted so far (26,344 ballots counted/107,150 total reg. voters)


Proposition 1:  63.64% Yes
Proposition 2:  62.56% Yes
Proposition 3:  56.92% Yes   (60% is needed to pass this proposition)
                         43.08% No

Letter: How LWSD uses taxpayer money to influence the outcome of the upcoming election

By Susan Wilkins

As part of the Lake Washington School District's plan to "modernize" Juanita High School, the district plans to tear down the 42-year-old building and replace it with a new building.  In 1968, King County voters approved the Forward Thrust Bond Measure that built pools around the county to teach children to swim.  Juanita High School and the Forward Thrust pool were both built at the Juanita High School site in 1971.   Read More >>

Letter: LWSD Kids Deserve Proper Facilities - Please Vote Yes on No. 3

All students deserve to spend their learning day in proper educational facilities. Please view the photos below taken at four of our overcrowded schools and think about the children and their teachers who spend each and every day without running water, without bathrooms, without proper ventilation and without the security of being in the main school building during a school-wide lockdown.   And please remember, that inside the main buildings, we have as many as 30 students per classroom in elementary buildings.   Read More >>

Letter: Please vote YES, YES, YES

I agree 100% with Minerva. Whatever difference of opinion you may have with the District and whether they managed things accurately/correctly, by voting No, you are punishing our children and hurting them - not the district. It is our children and our future that count on the proper facilities (both for a proper education and safety). And for us to decide to take that away from them because you disagree with District planning, is unfair and misplaced. We can continue to point the finger at the State (for inadequate funding), poor city planning and developer, etc. Yet the fact remains that our children and our future our counting on us to do the right thing.

My vote is Yes, Yes, Yes!
Ellie O'Rourke
Rockwell Elementary Parent and Legislative Advocate

Fourteen Year Old Publishes Ambitious Xbox Game

Warthog Wars available on Microsoft Xbox Indie Games Store

Redmond, WA – January 24, 2014 – Over a year of hard work, more than 400 hours invested, and about 6,000 lines of code is what it took 14 year-old Matthew Mistele to finally achieve his dream of becoming a published video game developer. "Warthog Wars" is now available on the Microsoft Xbox Indie Games store for download and purchase (priced at $3) by anyone with an Xbox. Also available are free downloads of the Warthog Wars game trailer video and PC versions of the game on Matthew’s web site at www.matthewmistele.com.

A year ago (then 13 year old) Matthew, now a freshman at The Bear Creek School in Redmond, drew up an ambitious plan to create a Xbox game with multiple game modes including campaigns, a survival mode (fight against the computer) and an Xbox live mode so he could compete against his friends over the Internet. He was just learning C# and had never written for the Xbox, so it was a lofty goal that at times seemed unattainable. But Matthew refused to give up, sacrificing long hours (both free time and not-so-free time), in his pursuit to create his very own Xbox video game.  Read More >>

Bear Creek Rehabilitation Project moves forward

City Council approved $3,002,284.93 to hire KLB Construction to complete "Bear Creek Rehabilitation Package 1", as follows:

The Bear Creek Rehabilitation Package 1 project is located between SR 520 and Bear

Creek Parkway, east of the Sammamish River and north of the current Bear Creek

Channel in Redmond. The package 1 project construction involved the following:

• Rough grading work of 2,600 feet of the future relocated channel

• Completion of 1,000 feet of stream features of the lower relocated channel

• Connection of the new channel to the Sammamish River

• Completion of the archaeological recovery necessary to mitigate any significant

cultural resources found within the future channel alignment

• Stockpile of material to be utilized in package 2 of the channel relocation

• Relocation of 2,700 feet of paved trail   Read More >>