"Vote Yes for Highline Schools" Bond Campaign Begins

BURIEN, Wash. - A building falling apart.  That’s the word from parents, students, and Highline Schools district leaders as they kicked off a “Vote Yes for Highline Schools” campaign.  It’s a call to action from the district that over the past ten years has been declined by voters.  District leaders say it’s critical a new bond initiative pass on the upcoming November ballot to give much needed funding to replace old buildings and provide better opportunities for learning.

“It’s just a big mess,” said Highline High Senior Benji Box.

That’s how Highline High Senior Benji Box describes his 90 plus year old school.

“This place is in the same condition as to when I was in high school here,” said Highline Schools Parent Maya Mendoza-Exstrom.

Back in the late 90s, Maya Mendoza-Exstrom once walked these halls plagued with problems.

“We still have wet floors. You can take a look at the boiler and you can see it’s even dripping from the boiler right now as we speak. And a lot of times this thing is just rattling and rolling,” said Highline High School Principal Vicki Fisher.

Highline High School Principal Vicki Fisher points out the many needs.  She says a bulldozer will do.

“Our heating system our plumbing system are such that they are so old, our building is 90 years old, it’s so old they can’t be repaired,” said Fisher.

In Phase One, The Capital Facilities Advisory Committee says replace the high school, Des Moines Elementary, build a new middle school, and expand elementary classrooms.  It all comes with a hefty price tag.

“When bond measures don’t pass, we can’t give state matching funds because there’s nothing to match,” said Washington State Senator Karen Keiser.

The bond is 79 cents per 1000 of your home’s assessed value paid through a property tax increase.

“Can we do the best we can so that students at Highline High School and Des Moines Elementary aren’t worried about mold when they go to the library, but at the same time, there are citizens who are on a fixed-income who have already paid into the system aren’t taxed too much as well,” said Mendoza-Exstrom.

And it’s not just physical needs, but dollars to get the students the tools to success.  Box says the outdated computers and software just won’t do.

“I’ve been working really hard to keep up and make sure I can make it to college and once I get to college I can make up there. But for some students, it’s just not an option,” said Box.

This will appear as a bond initiative on the November ballot for affected areas.  Vote Yes for Highline Schools to learn more about the bond.