‘We need more buildings’: Lake Stevens to try same $314M school bond

LAKE STEVENS — Following the narrow failure of a school bond in November, the Lake Stevens School District is planning to try again.

The bond is for the same amount — $314 million. In November, it received 58.34%, just short of the 60% needed to pass.

The district said increased growth and better interest rates mean less taxpayer impact. About 2,000 homes are either under construction or planned within the community, the district states on its bond webpage. Additionally, district projections call for another 13,000 residents in Lake Stevens over the next five years.

“Growth really is the key,” Superintendent Mary Templeton said Thursday. “It just means we need more buildings, but also there’s more people to pay the bill to build those buildings.”

The bond would:

• Build a new elementary school;

• Modernize and expand Glenwood and Skyline elementary schools as well as Lake Stevens Middle School;

• Build new gyms at five schools;

• And build a “secondary innovative learning center” at Mt. Pilchuck Elementary.

The election will take place Feb. 11.

“It starts with the classroom, the buildings, the infrastructure to where we keep these kids safe and engaged in a building or an environment that they want to come to,” said Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Teresa Main. “Good, new buildings, nice environment, it’s attributed to better attendance. Kids want to come to school because it’s a warm, inviting place.”

Enrollment has increased by nearly 10% over the past eight years. That’s led to a lot of students in temporary classrooms, which isn’t the ideal situation for learning, Templeton said.

“They are outside, they are far away, and they don’t have the same kind of experience that the other classrooms do,” Templeton said.

The hope is the $27 million secondary innovative learning center can open up career opportunities for kids in the district.

It could open the door to certifications allowing the district to offer classes that would help students toward college degrees. District officials hope it could lead to kids choosing teaching as a career path, as well.

“We have excellent students and community that live in Lake Stevens, I would love for the excellent students that live in Lake Stevens to become our future educators,” Templeton said.

Additionally, the district is hopeful for up to $60 million in school construction funding from the state. Being able to apply for that money depends on the bond passing. If the bond doesn’t pass, the school can’t apply.

The district is also worried costs for the upgrades and new buildings will only increase as time passes.

And that plays into why the district has chosen to push bonds over levies, which only need a simple majority to pass.

“The bond package is the ability for us to build buildings in real time,” Templeton said. “And not have to delay, because every time you delay building, the building that’s needed for all that growth, it costs you more money.”

Arlington is also looking to pass a school measure, a $75 million levy.

Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; X: @jordyhansen.