Another Highline schools bond election is coming up in less than a month.

On March 14, Highline voters will be asked to approve a $148 million bond to build schools in Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park and SeaTac as well as finance other district upgrades

Beyond the five schools (two in Des Moines), this measure is loaded with other goodies that should appeal to varied voting segments.

There’s money in the bond to rehabilitate Camp Waskowitz, add camera surveillance systems and fencing to secondary schools, upgrade technology, repair school roofs and build up an emergency fund.

New buildings would alleviate health and safety problems such as outdated fire alarms, leaking roofs, inefficient heating systems, deteriorating sewer lines and water pipes, inadequate earthquake protection and dangerous ceiling asbestos.

Apparently an internal note on health problems wasn’t edited when answers to frequently asked questions were posted on the district’s Web site.

After the mention of asbestos, a note in parenthesis states “I hope this does not cause concern with parents.”

It reminds me of a story out of the Sumner School District.

An indignant resident e-mailed a complaint to a school administrator. The administrator forwarded the email to the district’s public relations person with the added comment, “This guy is a nut. How should I respond?”

Unfortunately, the administrator also accidentally forwarded the comment to the resident.

Of course, district officials enrolled the offending administrator in what they felt was the proper professional development course -- a class on how to email.

Sentiment may play a part in one provision of the proposed bond.

Historic Camp Waskowitz strikes at the heart of every adult who attended Highline schools and spent a week at the camp during sixth grade or who sent their child or grandchild there.

I probably still have my sixth-grade notebook of pressed leaves from Camp Waskowitz somewhere.

Spending a week in the outdoors learning about the environment is more important than ever as Highline becomes ever more urbanized.

Another bond provision may cause students to waive “Vote No” signs. A part of the $9 million technology upgrades is a student data system that allows parents to check up on their child’s class assignments and homework.

Some of the district’s recent changes may have alienated the very parents who work hardest to pass bonds and levies.

Those changes include the closure of innovative Valley View Elementary School. Three of the five school board members who voted on closures chose Valley View for their own kids.

District officials also decided to switch to small learning communities within high schools to reach the students for whom comprehensive high schools had not been working.

That decision risked upsetting the parents of students who thrived in the current system.

However, after three recent tough bond elections and two levy elections, Highline Citizens for Schools is getting pretty good at running campaigns.

They have had a lot of high-powered help.

Political consultant Cathy Allen, who has been involved in 500 successful elections world wide, was an early advisor. You might have seen her on local television as an expert elections analyst.

Denny Eliason, head of the bond committee, was recently named top business lobbyist of the year by the Association of Washington Business. His clients include Amazon.com, Intel, the Washington Bankers Association and the Washington Restaurant Association.

He says the committee’s polling show that Highline voters are satisfied with the district. He points to the schools, funded by the last bond, that have been rebuilt on time and on budget.

For example, it’s a thrill to see the beautiful new White Center Elementary. I remember a few years ago being let in through a padlocked fence to see the old sad, moldy building that had been closed for several years.

New schools with solid educational programs along with attractive economic development are the keys to revitalizing the Highline community.

Vote yes on March 14.

Eric Mathison can be reached at hteditor@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1855.