LWSD Invites Parents, Residents to Weigh in on Potential Ballot Measures

The Lake Washington School District (LWSD) will hold a series of meetings this spring to gather community input on potential 2014 ballot measures.

The district announced last month that in the next nine years. LWSD says the greatest need will be in the Redmond learning community—Redmond High School and the elementary and middle schools that feed into it—where 2,280 more students than permanent classrooms are expected by 2021-22. 

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Although most pressing in Redmond, LWSD spokeswoman Kathryn Reith said Friday the enrollment projections are a significant concern elsewhere as increases to King County birth rates begin to have an impact.

"We’re seeing increases in numbers all over the district,” she said. “It’s coming not just from new development but also from existing housing.”

Here are some specifics from an earlier LWSD news release: 

Lake Washington Learning Community, the area served by Lake Washington High School, shows that enrollment will be 1,603 students more than permanent capacity by 2021-22. There are fewer portables in use in these schools, so if all the portable classrooms now on school campuses were in use, the space needed would be for 1,212 students.

The area served by Juanita High School has enough space for the projected numbers of elementary and middle school students but will need some space at the high school level. There will be 321 students more than permanent building capacity, 142 if space in portable classrooms is counted.

Any proposed measures would appear on a special-election ballot in February 2014. LWSD will also decide whether to pursue phase three of the district's modernization program at that time as well as renewal of its Capital Projects Levy and Educational Programs & Operations Levy, which funds 22.9 percent of the general fund.

Here is the meeting schedule and more info from LWSD: 

• Tuesday, April 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Redmond High School
• Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Eastlake High School
• Wednesday, May 1, 6:30-8:30, Lake Washington High School
• Thursday, May 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Juanita High School

In addition, information and an input form will be posted on the district website beginning on April 23. Those who cannot attend a meeting will be able to weigh in online. Input from the meetings and the online form will be consolidated.

Dr. Traci Pierce, superintendent, will use the community’s input to help make a recommendation to the school board. The board will vote on what measures to put on the ballot in February 2014.