The Highline School District’s $148 million bond has been officially certified by King County Elections as approved by voters.
Final totals showed 64.46 percent (11,410) of Highline voters approved the bond while 35.54 percent (6,292) rejected it.
The bond needed a 60 percent supermajority to be approved.
“I want to express my appreciation to the entire community,” Superintendent John Welch declared at the March 22 school board meeting.
He credited Highline Citizens for Schools, the volunteer group which ran the pro-bond campaign for “doing the lion’s share of the work.”
The group hired a paid campaign manager.
Welch also thanked district staff including teachers, PTA members and other private citizens.
Echoing Welch’s comments, board president Phyllis Byers said, “I publicly want to thank the community of Highline for supporting the bond. I appreciate everyone’s efforts.”
Meg VanWyk from the Highline Council of PTAs attributed the passage of the bond to the district’s handling of funds from a construction bond passed in 20002.
Six schools have been rebuilt and another two are being designed.
“You showed you can do it, and do it well,” VanWyk added.
Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler also congratulated district officials and board members.
“I can’t get over the fact that the bond is passing by 64 percent,” Sheckler said. “That’s absolutely incredible.”
Sheckler asked the board, in turn, to endorse Des Moines’ property tax levy lid lift proposal on the ballot in May.
The levy lid lift would finance additional police services.
The school bond will pay to rebuild Shorewood in Burien, Parkside and Midway in Des Moines and Marvista in Normandy Park. McMicken Heights in SeaTac will be rebuilt using state matching funds.
The bond also funds $2 million for additional security at secondary schools, $9 million in technology upgrades, $3.3 million for renovations to Camp Waskowitz and $9.5 million for roofing and emergency repairs.
Camp Waskowitz is the district’s outdoor education facility near North Bend.
District officials estimate a taxpayer who owns a $300,000 home will pay $30 more per year.
