[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written by a Reader. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The B-Town Blog nor its staff:]
What about a new Highline Schools Bond?
A month has passed since the second Highline Schools Bond failed to garner 60% of votes, and unfortunately, “Extreme Makeover” has yet to roll in and spruce up our old schools. Our district still faces that high hurdle of repairing and replacing schools so our Highline students can learn in safe and healthy learning environments.
Superintendent Susan Enfield responded after the close Feb. 10th bond failure, “The community has made it clear it wants us to work with what we have and we will.” Her statement understandably reflects disappointment after working tirelessly for months promoting the bond. However, I do not believe most Highline citizens are satisfied with crumbling schools and want to do nothing about them.
“Least harmful” solutions are not what most Highline citizens want for their kids or their neighbors’ kids. The clear message is not that the Highline community wants to make due with ever deteriorating buildings. Fifty-seven percent voted “Yes,” only 3% short of the super-majority requirement, and many “No” voters wanted to vote “yay” but did not like the proposed bond.
No-voters contributing to this blog wrote of unattractive bond issues such as the high price tag, the bond’s balloon payment plan, too few schools for the price, lack of building and repair specifics, displeasure of the Des Moines Elementary move, and not addressing enough needs across the district, to name a few. Most wrote of wanting to vote for a bond they could support. By law, Highline can issue one more bond measure in the 2015 calendar year, so let’s get busy formulating a bond that will pass!
This time around, the district office must engage and include the community more actively. Including parents and community members across the district, who are passionate about their schools will provide helpful insights into their neighborhood and school needs, generating creative ideas and solutions for design teams. And, more community input will generate more bond buy-in.
Superintendent Enfield’s scheduled neighborhood coffee chats are a great start in conversing with folks. In addition, the school district is now posting audio recordings of Highline School Board meetings on the district website under the School Board tab, so citizens can stay informed and current.
Highline leadership needs to include more community members in any bond design process and offer more bond proposal specifics if a future bond is to surpass the 60% super-majority threshold, and build what will be right for our community:
- Invite the public to join and participate in Capital Projects Oversight Committee meetings. The seven community members that currently sit on the Committee were appointed by the Superintendent. Wouldn’t it be great if the Committee also included interested citizens, teachers and parents to offer local perspectives? And, record the work sessions and make proceedings available for the public to follow.
- Conduct school tours so the public can see for themselves the state of our old schools.
- Supply citizens with project plans, costs and drawings. Asking citizens to approve a $380 million bond with few project details and “Just trust us,” is a difficult leap for many people.
- Set up a HSD Capital Projects website so the public can read about current project progress. The Seattle School District builds and repairs schools with 3-year levies for continuous funds available for school buildings. Check out their website! Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) Capital Program
- Consider creative ideas. Can we come up with more affordable solutions that will address more school needs?
Highline citizens want our kids to attend modern schools. So let’s join forces, community and school district, and together draw up a schools bond we can get excited about!
– Sarah Gengler Dahl
What about a new Highline Schools Bond?[Have an opinion or concern you’d like to share with our ~80,000+ monthly Readers? Please send us your Letter to the Editor via email. Include your full name, please remain civil and, pending our review, we’ll consider publishing it.]