To the editor:

After I read about the Highline School Construction Bond, it appears to me like a re-run of a bad old movie. The Bond is submitted for the November General Election.

At this writing, I believe it necessary to reiterate to the Superintendent, Teachers, and other

Employees of Highline, this District is owned by all of its citizens. That means they are to represent everyone. Our employees are not to collude with their Unions to bilk citizens out of their scant income to satisfy employee appetites.

The Construction Bond as presented looks like about half construction with the remainder compiled from a list of items already paid for from State Basic Education Funds. Moreover, much of it is unspecified items in categories not related to construction.
As evidence of need, Class size is anti-correlative to how well a student performs. What's more, the point is moot because there is a very large initiative to the people about class size heading from the State to the voter polls in chorus, in November.

There are questions in my mind about the enrollment projections. I want to see more about the workup.

Some of the schools, from the maintenance-required-list, look like buildings with ordinary maintenance items funded under State Basic Education. To make matters worse, the District has been including additional money for maintenance in their O&M levy too. That money was intended by the State for our kids so they could have extra’s such as sports and music classes.

Historically I have seen the Highline High School offered several times for re-build of some sort or another.

One time the District said they would build an auditorium. After passage, the Auditorium morphed into a patch of ground. Instead, some folks in the community decided to satisfy their longing for a Performing Arts Center with the money. Words of the contract read in effect, we are not bound to this promise and may use the monies for whatever the School Board determines.

Look for the disclaimers in this proposed Bond. This pork barrel smells and ought to be kept away from decent people.

I recommend citizens of this community take a closer look at the items presented and the language of this bond with an eye to saying no.

Paul Willoughby