Times/News

Voters in the Highline School District may be asked in March to approve another bond measure to build four new elementary schools and finance other district upgrades.

A fifth elementary would also be rebuilt using state matching funds if voters approve the bond.

In March 2002, voters passed a $189. 5 million bond after two previous rejections.

"The first phase covered about one-third of what we need," board president Tom Slattery commented at the Aug. 10 board meeting.

Board members will hold a work session on Aug. 24 to study the proposed bond and could act at a special meeting during the last week of August to place the measure on the March ballot.

During the Aug. 10 meeting, board members also approved a $147.9 million general fund budget for the 2005-2006 school year.

Two bond amount options were presented to board members by district staffers.

A $141 million bond would finance construction of the four schools plus $3 million in Camp Waskowitz repairs, $2 million in security upgrades, $7 million in technology improvements and $4.7 million for an emergency fund.

And for $7 million more, the district could add $700,000 in technology upgrades, raise the emergency fund by $962,000 and renovate an interim site for Aviation High School.

Bond adviser Jon Gores, vice president of Seattle-Northwest Securities, estimated a Highline homeowner with a house valued at $300,000 would pay about $30 more in taxes per year if the bond passes.

Bond revenues would be used to replace Shorewood in north Burien, Midway and Parkside in Des Moines, and Marvista in Normandy Park.

Facilities Director Al Schmidt said the district's capital facilities plan, adopted in 2002, envisioned that additions built in 1991 at Midway, Parkside and Marvista would be renovated when the schools were rebuilt.

However, Schmidt recommended that the additions be removed and the entire school campuses be rebuilt.

By replacing the one-story additions, the architecture would match withr the planned two-story buildings and there would be less risk of expensive renovation change orders.

The sites also would be freed up for the new building and sports fields to be placed in the best locations, according to Schmidt.

But keeping the additions means cheaper construction costs and the public may perceive removal as wasting money, he added.

Board members indicated they favored removing the additions.

If the bond passes, McMicken Heights Elementary would also be rebuilt using state matching construction funds.

McMicken Heights is located at 3708 S. 168th St. in SeaTac.

Schmidt raised the possibility the school could be rebuilt at the former Crestview school site, 16200 43rd Ave. S. in Tukwila.

Only a small portion of the Highline district is within the Tukwila city limits. A separate Tukwila School District includes Foster High, Showalter Middle school and three elementaries.

Asked the advantage of Crestview, Schmidt replied, "Location, location, location."

Board member Phyllis Byers agreed that Crestview is a "gorgeous site."

However, many students would have to cross the busy Military Road South arterial and busing costs would be higher.

Located near a large apartment complex, McMicken Heights has a high proportion of students who walk to school, Schmidt reported.

"We should have direction soon on McMicken Heights," board president Tom Slattery said.

Staff members will bring more information on the McMicken alternatives to a Aug. 24 work study session.

Security director Tony Zeman recommended $2 million in security upgrades for the district's secondary schools to be paid from bond revenues.

They include a camera surveillance system, security fencing, and additional lighting.

Technology director Vern Jacobson outlined $7 million in proposed technology enhancements.

The district would upgrade its wide area network and secondary school local area networks, bring fiber optic connections to 18 additional sites, replace desktop computer equipment older than five years, replace phone systems at nine sites, provide additional teacher training, and replace the student data system.

If board members opt to ask for the higher bond amount, additional instruction and a data warehouse would also be included, according to Jacobson.

If a $148 million bond is okayed, the district could move up plans to renovate an additional transitional/interim school site, Assistant Superintendent Geri Fain said.

Transitional sites are used to house students while their neighborhood schools are being rebuilt.

Aviation High School, now located on the Duwamish campus of South Seattle Community College, will have to move in September of 2006, and could be housed temporarily at the Sunnydale site, if it is upgraded, she noted.

Sunnydale was closed in June along with Salmon Creek and Olympic. Valley View is set to close in June 2007.

The chairman of the citizens group that would campaign for bond approval said Camp Waskowitz, district security and technology have polled positively among Highline voters.

Denny Eliason from Highline Citizens for Schools asked the board for clear direction by early September.

He said his group could gather in mid-September to begin raising the estimated $100,000 needed for the bond campaign.

Construction plans for the schools included in the 2002 bond are almost completed.

Board members also heard construction budget estimates for Cedarhurst and Bow Lake elementaries, which are set to open Sept. 2007.

Mt. Rainier High School is also scheduled to open then.

Mt. View and North Hill will reopen next month.

Already reopened are Madrona, White Center Heights, Hazel Valley and Gregory Heights.

"We are where we wanted to be," Slattery remarked. "We built schools and then for a minimal amount (to the taxpayers) we can build more schools."