Juanita High School has many facilities that other schools do not have, including a pool, a large field house and a theater. But the school is nearly 40 years old and was constructed in an unusual manner.
The Kirkland City Council passed three resolutions during its Jan. 5 meeting, expressing its support for each Lake Washington School District ballot measure to be placed on the Feb. 9 ballot, including one to rebuild Juanita High School. But one of the three main features to the school, the Juanita Pool, will not be rebuilt if the city does not pitch in.
“I wish the state would more closely read the constitution and make a better investment since it is the paramount duty of the state to provide an ample funding for education,” said Council member Dave Asher. “Since that isn’t going to happen, we have to pass all three of these.”
The $234 million bond measure, Proposition No. 3, would fund a $130 million renovation of Juanita High School, enable the construction of two new elementary schools in Redmond, allow for the expansion of Redmond and Eastlake High Schools and the Environmental and Adventure School in Kirkland.
Lake Washington School District Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball told the council that the property tax to pay for the bond would add about $.32 for every $1,000 of assessed value.
“For a $500,000 home, which is the average in the Lake Washington School District, the first year would be $170 and it goes up to just over $200 the second year,” said Kimball. “But that pays for those five new schools.”
The Juanita High School renovation was projected for later on this decade but Kimball sees a need to move up the date.
“Currently, under our 40 year modernization program, Juanita High School is scheduled to be funded through the 2014 modernization bond and constructed by 2018,” said Kimball. “We have asked for acceleration of that project for a number of reasons.”
The impending transition for Juanita High School to become a four year school, relieving overcrowding in the district’s elementary system and the fact that interest rates are low at the current time were just some of the reasons that Kimball gave for wanting to accelerate the projects.
Originally, Juanita High School was built in 1971 as an open concept like a warehouse, meaning it had no walls on the inside. School officials later decided to put up walls.
Council member Amy Walen asked Kimball about the pool issue.
“This is likely a tear down project rather than a gut-the-building-and-rebuild project,” said Kimball. “Juanita High School has three features, the field house, the pool and the theater. Our hope is to work with city to include the pool.”
Kimball said that including the pool would mean an additional $40 million.
Juanita Pool was closed for a short time due to operating costs and an overall school district budget shortfall last year. The district eventually came to an agreement last summer for WAVE Aquatics to run the pool and keep it open.
Kirkland City Manager Dave Ramsay said that the council had a chance to help with the on-going pool situation when the funding for the rebuild of Lake Washington High School took place. The city was not in a financial position to help at that time.
“In the coming year it will be important for us to revisit our indoor recreation center concept and see if it can fit on the site,” said Ramsay of the Juanita pool.
The bond measure would need 60 percent to pass, while the levies will need just a simple majority. Continuing taxes and new taxes are not an easy sell and Kimball touched on that subject.
“We are sensitive to the tax and economic environment right now,” he said. “But these measures are extremely important to the lifeblood of the Lake Washington School District.”
The 60 percent threshold has become a touchy subject with some who live in the area and pushed for annexation, which failed by the slimmest of margins. Johanna Palmer, who told the council she plans to help campaign for the school bond, was the chair of the annexation Yes Committee.
“I am really hoping that the community will support it,” said Palmer. “I am bound and determined that this vote wont miss by seven votes.”
The two levies on the ballot could have a huge impact on the future of the school district. Proposition No. 1 is a replacement for an expiring levy that represents approximately 19 percent of the district’s operating budget.
“It would be devastating to lose the EPO (Educational Programs and Operations Levy) funds,” said Kimball. “It would be catastrophic in this community. It pays for 612 teachers (in the district).”
The second measure replaces a levy to pay for the up keep of district facilities.
