Bond to Reduce Overcrowding and Enhance Student Learning Environments

Proposition 3

Thanks to our supportive community, the April 2016 bond measure passed, allowing Lake Washington to build more schools and classrooms to support our growing enrollment.

Student enrollment in LWSD continues to grow. We want to provide students with the best learning environments possible and provide classrooms for our ever-growing student population.

The 2018 bond maintains the current rate with no tax rate increase.

The Current Situation:

Rapid Growth

Lake Washington School District is rapidly growing
Current enrollment is 29,572 students
Lake Washington School District is now the 3rd largest district in the state
2018 marks 10 straight years of enrollment growth
From 2010-2017 enrollment has grown an average of 700 students per year

The Challenge:

Not Enough Classrooms, Crowded Schools, Aging Facilities

There is not enough classroom space to meet the needs of growing enrollment
Schools are overcrowded
There are 171 portables classrooms in the district

That is the equivalent of 7 elementary schools
14% of the total district classroom capacity is portables

The district also has aging facilities that need to be addressed

The Solution:

Build More Schools

A citizen-based 63-member Long Term Facility Task Force spent nearly a year (December 2014-November 2015) analyzing the district's facility needs, engaging the community, and developing recommendations including:
- Specific construction projects needed for the district through 2029-30
- Strategies for efficient and cost-effective facility designs

Read the Long-Term Facility Task Force recommendations

The Funding Plan:

Comprehensive, Responsible, Cost-Conscious, Fiscally Disciplined

In April 2016, voters pass the first of four planned bond measures to fulfill the Task Force recommendations
Construction is now underway on 8 projects, implementing cost-effective construction design principles
The February 2018 bond will fund additional projects needed to provide classroom space
No tax rate increase