2025 Bond

• Video Introduction
• 2025 Bond Project Overview
• Project Breakdowns
• Improvements by School
• Project Timeline
• Informational Materials
• Article in the Everett Herald
• 2016 Bond Projects
• 2005 Bond Projects
• 2025 Bond FAQs
• Bond Survey Summary

Our bond remains essential to current and future growth, to replace aging facilities, to ensure safe and secure schools, and to support the well-being and success of our students. In November, our bond measure narrowly missed the required 60 percent supermajority to pass, even though a majority of voters supported it. These investments will create thriving learning environments for today’s students and generations to come.

The 2005 bond will be paid-in-full in 2025. When we started planning for this bond in 2023, interest rates and property values were different. Since then, interest rates have decreased and there are more residents to share the tax burden. These changes mean we can still fund all the same projects at the same total cost as before, but with a slightly lower financial impact on taxpayers.

As our schools age, it becomes increasingly difficult to support the needs of our current and growing student population. Delaying these projects will only increase costs over time.

While the district has worked hard to maintain our facilities, many of our buildings can no longer meet the educational, safety, and capacity needs of today’s students. This bond was designed to address those challenges now, before costs rise further. 

The bond proposal is the result of a comprehensive study by the Facilities Needs Advisory Committee (FNAC), which includes parents, caregivers, staff, students, and community members. This committee reviewed building conditions, safety assessments, and enrollment trends to make informed recommendations. 

Key reasons for the proposed projects include:

• Overcrowding: Our elementary schools are operating well above capacity, with enrollment growth expected to continue.
• Aging facilities: Schools like Glenwood and Skyline Elementary Schools and Lake Stevens Middle School no longer meet the needs of students and staff.
• Safety and security upgrades: Many of our aging buildings require updates to improve safety and security for students and staff. 
• State funding opportunities: These projects qualify for state funding assistance, allowing us to stretch taxpayer dollars further. These funds are only available to school districts after passing voter-approved bonds.

By law, general fund dollars—used for daily operations like staffing, utilities and supplies—cannot be used to build or modernize schools. Major construction projects can only be funded through bonds, which require voter approval.

In Washington, school construction and other capital projects rely on voter-approved bonds. While the state provides partial matching funds, this only happens after voters approve a bond. These matching funds help reduce the financial impact on taxpayers.

In 2022, Lake Stevens voters approved replacement Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) and Technology levies, not a bond. Here’s the difference between levies and bonds:

• Levies fund day-to-day operations (think “L” for Learning), such as classroom supplies, extracurricular programs, and technology updates.
• Bonds fund long-term investments in school Buildings and infrastructure improvements (think “B” for Buildings).

Additionally, levies only require a simple majority (50% + 1) to pass, while bonds require a 60% supermajority for approval.

As more people move into our district, it’s true that there are more taxpayers sharing the load. However, for bonds, the district can only collect the amount approved by voters—in this case, $314 million. We don’t receive additional funds as more people move in; instead, the cost is distributed across more taxpayers, which means the amount each individual pays decreases slightly.

Over the past two bond campaigns, the district has consistently managed projects to maximize the taxpayer resources, and to deliver more than was originally promised. Our community is involved in this process through our Facilities Needs Advisory Committee—made up of parents and caregivers, employees, students and community members. The committee studied facility needs and enrollment data to bring a recommendation to our Board of Directors in early 2024. The board approved the bond resolution in May 2024.

Here’s a snapshot of the expectations and what was delivered in the last two bond campaigns.

2005 Bond: We promised projects like a new mid high school, modernization of several elementary schools, and improvements at Lake Stevens High School (LSHS). In addition to these, we also completed additional projects such as:

• Track and field events area surfacing and stadium lights at LSHS
• Expanded seating, visitor bleachers at LSHS stadium
• Synthetic baseball, softball infields at LSHS
• Synthetic field at CAV
• New softball fields, walking paths at Hillcrest and Mt Pilchuck Elementary Schools

2016 Bond: We promised a new elementary school, Early Learning Center, and modernization of Lake Stevens High School, along with districtwide security improvements and infrastructure repairs. Beyond these commitments, we also added:

• Additional security equipment (cameras and electronic locks) at all schools and support facilities
• Kindergarten additions at Glenwood, Highland, Hillcrest, Mt. Pilchuck, Skyline and Sunnycrest Elementary Schools
• Additional classrooms at Stevens Creek Elementary School
• Additional modernized spaces at LSHS
• HomeLink and district warehouse spaces at LSHS
• Track replacement and exterior painting at CAV
• Gym roof replacements at Lake Stevens and North Lake Middle Schools
• New playfield and connection to sewer at Glenwood Elementary School
• Renovation of Hillcrest West for additional classrooms
• Modular classrooms at Skyline and Glenwood
• Skyline playground ADA ramp
• Transportation south satellite at CAV

 In each case, we sought additional funding and managed budgets carefully to exceed expectations. We are committed to continuing this approach with the new bond, ensuring that every dollar is used effectively to benefit our students and community.

The rapid growth in our community—and the resulting overcrowding in schools—has been anticipated. The Lake Stevens School District works closely with the City of Lake Stevens and Snohomish County to forecast housing trends and community expansion. However, school districts do not have the authority to control or regulate growth; those decisions are made by city and county officials. Our role is to plan for and serve the increasing number of students and families moving into the area.

Over the past decade, our district’s enrollment has grown by approximately 20.8%, putting significant pressure on our facilities. Currently, more than 800 elementary students and up to 360 middle school students are learning in temporary classrooms. To address this growth, the district relies on bonds, which are the only way to fund the construction of new schools and modernize existing facilities to create more space for students.

Yes, the district receives school impact fees from developers, and these funds are used to help fund construction and modernization projects. Currently, developers pay $13,730 per unit. These fees are not nearly enough to cover the full costs of building and modernizing schools.

School district boundaries do not follow city boundaries. Lake Stevens School District serves students in the cities of Lake Stevens, Granite Falls, Marysville, Snohomish and unincorporated areas of Snohomish County. Some families in Marysville live within the boundaries of the Lake Stevens School District and pay annual property taxes to our district.

We understand that this is a common concern. Glenwood and Skyline Elementary Schools were built in the early 1990s with an open-concept design—a trend in school construction at that time. As part of this design, the classrooms were never built with interior doors; they were not removed.

Adding doors to these classrooms is more complicated than it might seem. The doorways are part of the building’s original structure. Retrofitting these spaces would require extensive construction, including removing sections of the roof, which is why these updates are included as part of a larger modernization and expansion plan.

The new kindergarten classrooms added in 2018, funded by a state class size reduction grant, were designed with standard classroom doors to meet modern safety standards.

To address safety concerns, significant improvements have already been made at both schools, including:

• Electronic key card systems for controlled access.
• The ability to quickly secure classroom wings.
• Using exterior doors for evacuation when necessary.

While these measures help keep students and staff as safe as possible, we recognize that additional upgrades are necessary. The proposed bond would address these needs and ensure a safer, more secure learning environment.

The majority of expected growth in our community is in the northwest part of the district, and the district already owns land across from Stevens Creek, which is well-positioned for development. Building schools on existing district property reduces land acquisition costs and uses the infrastructure already in place to support a new school (roads, sewer, utilities). 

To mitigate traffic and neighborhood impacts, start and dismissal times will be staggered for Stevens Creek and the new school, along with the Early Learning Center.

Cavelero Mid High School opened in 2007 to address overcrowding in our district. At the time, we maximized state matching funds to reduce costs for taxpayers. To qualify for these funds, Cavelero had to operate as a mid-high school for at least five years. This led to a common misconception that it would automatically transition to a second high school after that time. While we know a second high school will eventually be necessary, this change will only happen when enrollment projections show a clear need. We are not at that point. 

Based on growth trends, we anticipate the need for a second high school within the next 10 years. Before that can happen, the district would need to build a new middle school and adjust school boundaries to support the transition.

At the elementary level, there are currently more than 30 portables used as temporary classrooms, serving more than 800 students, with 14 more used for music, PE and other support services. The community Facilities Needs Advisory Committee determined that our most immediate need was to add permanent classroom space at the elementary level by modernizing and expanding Glenwood and Skyline Elementary Schools, building a new elementary school, and modernizing and expanding Lake Stevens Middle School.

Lake Steven High School (LSHS) was modernized and expanded with funding from the 2016 bond. The expansion at LSHS was built to accommodate future growth based on enrollment projections from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

The new Secondary Innovative Learning Center, one of the projects included in the 2024 bond, will also draw enrollment from LSHS and our secondary schools by offering non-traditional learning opportunities for students who need additional support.

Yes, but not yet. The most immediate need is in our elementary schools where there are more than 800 students learning in temporary classrooms. 

As part of the bond, Lake Stevens Middle School will be modernized and expanded to support more students. Future bond projects could include modernizing and expanding North Lake Middle School, once it becomes eligible for state construction assistance funds. This will further support middle school capacity.

Before Cavelero can become a second high school, we would need to build a third middle school. Eighth-graders would return to middle schools and ninth-graders would move up to the two high schools. If Cavelero were to become a high school right now, there would be approximately 25 underutilized classrooms between it and LSHS.

While our enrollment is growing districtwide, the most immediate need is in our elementary schools.

North Lake Middle School was last modernized in 2000, making it more recently updated than the schools prioritized in the bond. Additionally, several improvement projects were completed at North Lake this summer, including new paint, carpeting, tiles, and HVAC upgrades.

However, the bond included additional, much-needed updates to North Lake, including: 

• Enhanced safety and security features, such as perimeter fencing, secure reception areas, and electronic locks on portable classrooms.
• Improved spaces for Special Education services to better meet students’ educational and physical needs.
• Replacing the non-functioning lights on the athletic field, allowing for extended use by both the school and the community.

While North Lake was not the primary focus of this bond, these proposed updates highlight the district’s commitment to creating safe, inclusive, and functional learning environments across all schools.

The modernization of Lake Stevens High School was carefully designed to create spaces where students feel connected and prepared for their futures—whether they pursue college, careers, or technical training. The design reflects input from students, staff and community members—ensuring it meets the needs of all stakeholders.

Completed within the budget approved by voters as part of the 2016 bond, the high school’s design mirrors real-world environments that students may encounter after graduation. It also provides opportunities for hands-on learning through Career and Technical Education programs, helping students gain valuable, practical skills that will serve them beyond high school.

Great schools benefit everyone—whether or not you have children in the district.

• Our schools are an investment supported by past tax dollars and must be maintained for the benefit of the entire community.
• Taxpayers own the schools, and supporting education benefits everyone.
• Good schools help foster a strong local economy and increase property values.
• Investing in education helps ensure a brighter future for our community.

Athletic facilities are essential for physical education, school sports, and extracurricular activities, which keep students engaged and build a sense of community. However, our wet, dark weather impacts the useability of our secondary fields. 

The bond proposed adding lighting to Cavelero Mid High School’s turf field, replacing the non-functional lights at North Lake Middle School, and adding turf and lighting to the field at Lake Stevens Middle School. These improvements would benefit both students and the community by increasing access to safe, usable facilities year-round.

Ballots will be mailed to registered voters around Jan. 23. Completed ballots must be returned by mail (no postage required) or to a secure ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Feb. 11, 2025. In Lake Stevens, the drop box is located downtown near the boat launch, 1800 Main Street. 

If you aren’t a registered voter, or if you need to update your voter registration, you can do that online at voter.votewa.gov.

Yes. Detailed information is available from the Snohomish County Assessor’s Office at 425-388-3433.

Information and updates will be shared on the district website, through our print and email publications, social media and during community meetings. To be added to our mailing lists, please email tellus@lkstevens.wednet.edu (current LSSD families and staff are already included).