May 6: Bond Advisory Committee Recommends Package to ISD Superintendent

The members of the district’s Bond Advisory Committee selected a bond package scenario to recommend to the superintendent that incorporates districtwide projects to improve safety and security, meet the requirements of the Clean Buildings Act, modernize buildings, and support secondary needs including innovation, Career and Technical Education (CTE) remodeling and overcrowding. The total bond scenario would cost about $650.2 million, if the superintendent proposes the full package to the School Board.

The more than 60 committee members met for the eighth and final time on April 30, the culmination of many hours of learning, discussion and asking detailed questions to clarify and refine what should be included in their recommendation. Next, Superintendent Heather Tow-Yick will propose a bond package to the School Board for consideration. Tow-Yick may keep the scenario as-is or may modify it. The discussion will begin at this week’s School Board meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 at the district Administration Building. The meeting is open to community members to attend in person or virtually.

If Tow-Yick and the School Board come to agreement on a package and a resolution, the bond measure will be on the November ballot. If the committee’s recommendation remains intact, the proposal would cost homeowners about $0.24 per $1,000 assessed property value in 2025. The increase would bring the district’s total projected tax rate for 2025 to $3.43 per $1,000 assessed value.

The scenario includes projects such as:

• Districtwide Safety and Security improvements such as fire systems, cameras, vestibules, hardware/access control, anti-intruder window coverings and more, estimated at $39.9 million.
• Districtwide building stewardship projects that would:
  • Help the district meet the mandates of the Clean Buildings Act, including LED lighting, major system optimization, and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning); estimated at $130.6 million.
  • Modernize buildings, including roof replacements, major system replacements, exterior walls and windows, kitchen modernizations, districtwide audio visual; estimated at $186.4 million.
• Districtwide secondary needs including:
  • Innovation and CTE remodeling such as 20,000 square feet of added space at Liberty High school and a 5,000-square-foot remodel at Liberty; a 5,000-square-foot remodel at both Skyline High School and Issaquah High School; some work at Gibson Ek High School. Estimated at $78.6 million.
  • High school capacity at the next new high school, estimated at $138.7 million.
• Districtwide other considerations that would fund needs related to Student Support and Well-Being, Athletics and Activities, and Early Learning Options:
  • Student Support and Well-Being, including restroom upgrades, accessible and safe playgrounds spaces, and Special Services upgrades; estimated at $16.6. million.
  • Athletics and Activities projects including field renovations, a possible collaboration with the City of Issaquah to expand pool space, and field lights at Beaver Lake, Cougar Mountain and Pacific Cascade middle schools; estimated at $37.4 million.
• Early Learning options in the south end of the district and land for Transportation expansion, estimated at $22 million.

School Board President Dr. Harlan Gallinger thanked each member of the bond committee for volunteering their time, noting that their role on the committee came with a significant impact to their personal schedules, families and other commitments.

To learn more about the committee, review the meeting minutes or other materials, visit the Bond Advisory Committee page of ISD website.