Bond Survey Summary

The district strategically proposed this bond because the 2005 bond will be fully paid off in 2025, which minimizes the 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 they become more urgent and expensive.

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.
• Specialized learning spaces: We need dedicated spaces to support specialized programs within our district, rather than sending students elsewhere.
• 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.

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 not standard sizes and are integral to the building’s 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.

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. It’s important to understand the difference:

• 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.

Previous bonds

2016 bond: Funded the modernization and expansion of Lake Stevens High School, the building of Stevens Creek Elementary School and the Early Learning Center, and districtwide updates to safety, security, health and infrastructure systems at all schools.

2005 bond: Will be paid off in 2025. Funded the building of Cavelero Mid High School; the modernization of Hillcrest, Mt. Pilchuck and Sunnycrest Elementary Schools; and facilities improvements at Lake Stevens High School, including the new stadium.

You can explore the district's revenues and expenditures on our website. Additionally, our Board of Directors hosts an annual Budget Hearing each summer, where they invite the public to provide feedback on the proposed district budget. The district also has a history of clean audits from the Office of the Washington State Auditor.

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 $11,434 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.

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.

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.

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.

It is common for districts to build multiple schools on the same property to reduce land acquisition costs. 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. This property also has the necessary infrastructure 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.

• 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.

The district’s curriculum is aligned with state and Common Core Standards, and it is open for review. This bond measure, however, is focused specifically on addressing the urgent needs of our schools—safety, aging facilities, and capacity for future growth. These improvements are vital to ensure a safe, supportive environment for all students, enabling us to continue providing quality education.

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 usability 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.