The Lake Washington School District (LWSD) bond of $398 million to reduce overcrowding and enhance aging facilities is passing with 65.4 percent of the vote, according to the first vote totals released by King County Elections on Tuesday.
The bond has gathered 22,223 votes in support, and 11,758 votes against. More votes are to be counted and thoseadditional totals will be released in the days ahead.
The bond will, among other large projects, rebuild Juanita High School in Kirkland, build two new elementary schools and anew middle school in Redmond.
LWSD Communications Director Kathryn Reith, who celebrated the results with parents, staff members and a handful ofstudents at the Lake Washington Education Association building in Kirkland, said the passing was a mixture of things—relief, excitement and gratitude.
“We were hopeful, and there was certainly tremendous community support and community input throughout the process,”Reith said. “The Citizens Levy Committee campaign was phenomenal.”
A somewhat similar bond was put to vote in 2014, but was defeated with 58 percent — two percent short of the passingrequirement. The district spent a year studying options for trimming down the 2016 bond.
“I think there was a lot of time spent listening to the community, developing projects and understanding what ourcommunity wanted from school buildings,” Reith said. “We were listening to people all over the district, and that had a lot todo with how projects were determined.”
LWSD Superintendent Dr. Traci Pierce was all smiles at the Lake Washington Schools Foundation fundraising breakfast onWednesday at the Redmond Marriott Town Center. At the close of the event, she announced the voting percentage to thecrowd and received a round of applause.
“It’s a big success for us and we couldn’t be more thrilled that we’re seeing that level of support from the community. It willjust be great what we can do for our students now,” Pierce told the Reporter after the event.
“There was a luncheon last week and a breakfast this week and so it just kind of serendipitously happened in terms ofscheduling,” she added. “I have to say it feels pretty awesome to be here this morning and just seeing the community comeout to support our students and the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, and then to be able to share the outstandingresults that we got on the bond, as well.”
Martha Deamicis, part of the Citizens Levy Committee and the mother of two young children, said the district’s significantovercrowding was what pushed her to action.
“We saw what was happening, and knew we could turn the tide,” she said. “This bond is a phenomenal step for our kids, ourcommunity and is building schools we have needed for a long time. We’re proud of our accomplishment.”
The Reporter’s John Howard and Andy Nystrom filed this report.
