The Highline School District’s first big action under new superintendent Susan Enfield is to not take action.

At a July 25 study session, Enfield recommended to board members that the district hold off presenting a school construction bond to voters until 2014.

Lois Schipper, Highline Citizens for Schools chair, told the Highline Times that her group preferred the district first undergo a “community process” before asking voters to decide on a bond.

Schipper’s organization runs the campaigns for district bonds and levies.

She said a community process would provide information to residents on a possible bond, physical conditions of schools and a schedule for construction.

The group had hoped such a process could have begun this past spring or summer but was delayed because of the search for a new superintendent. Enfield took over July 9.

If the board decided in October to offer a bond, that wouldn’t have given her group much time to campaign before an election early next year, according to Schipper.

The delay also gives the economy another year to improve, Schipper added.

Highline voters previously approved two bond measures that have funded the rebuilding of most elementaries and Mt. Rainier High in Des Moines. However, a third phase involving middle and high schools has been delayed because of the poor economy.

“I think it was a good decision (to delay a bond vote,)” Schipper said. “Having the community involved will put us in a much stronger place to pass the bond.”

The citizens group’s desire for a community process nicely dovetails with the district’s renewal of its strategic plan. The previous plan, formulated under previous superintendent John Welch is ending this fall.

The new plan should look at education first which will allow the district to have a clearer look at its facility needs, Enfield told board members.

She also noted that while some facilities need repair or replacement there are no immediate big safety concerns.

During their regular meeting, board members passed without comment a $194 million operating budget for the 2012-2013 school year.

Unlike some recent years, there will be no significant program or staff cuts. However, there will be no restoration of programs or positions that accounted for $18 million in previous cuts.

New positions in support services are still frozen and the staff will still take 1.5 furlough days.

The $47.4 million capitol budget will help fund construction of Raisbeck Aviation High School across from Tukwila’s Museum of Flight and design work on the Puget Sound Skills Center health sciences building in Burien.

Enfield’s first regular board meeting adjourned after a brisk 30 minutes with many staff members absent because of summer vacations.