Levy results show schools matter to voters, officials say

Area school officials say that final results from the Feb. 9 special election show voters made school issues a priority despite a tough economy.

Voters approved all of the school levies for districts in King and Snohomish counties, according to the official results released Wednesday. Two large bonds also won approval, while two others, in Lake Washington School District and Marysville School District, fell short.

"In these tough times, voters want to see their schools supported and strengthened," said Lisa Macfarlane, of the League of Education Voters. "This was obviously a big win for school kids all across the state."

Two Seattle Public Schools levies easily passed.

But Macfarlane noted that many of the levies would have failed if they had to receive a 60 percent yes vote, as was required before the law was changed in 2007. Levies now pass with a simple majority vote.

The results from the all mail-in election were certified Wednesday after more than two weeks of counting. Turnout varied slightly by district but was generally between 35 and 40 percent, surpassing the expected 35 percent.

Lake Washington and Marysville can try their failed bond issues again as soon as April, but they would have to pay the election's logistical costs.

Kathryn Reith, spokeswoman for Lake Washington, said the district will not rerun its bond measure this year, saying it was not "immediately pressing." The $234 million issue, aimed at addressing overcrowding by converting high schools from three- to four-year schools, received 55.7 percent of the vote.

Bond measures, which finance construction and major renovations, still require 60 percent for approval.

Marysville Superintendent Larry Nyland said his district will decide by March 8 whether to go back to the voters but is leaning toward trying a "substantially" reduced version of the bond measure. The original $78 million measure, which would have allowed the district to replace and renovate three schools, got 53.2 percent of the vote.

Two other bond issues, a $150 million measure in Shoreline School District and a $149 million measure in Northshore School District, were approved.

Seattle Public Schools enjoyed the largest support of any area district. Nearly 75 percent of voters approved its $442.7 million, three-year operations levy, while 73.5 percent approved its $270 million, six-year capital levy.

"The overwhelming passage rates of both levies, even during a recession, shows the great passion of our city for supporting students and their success," Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson said.

Operations levies fund about 20 percent of the general-fund budgets of school districts, while capital levies pay for building maintenance and technology upgrades.

In Federal Way, a $21.2 million, six-year capital levy for technology projects squeaked by with 51.6 percent. When the first batch of results was released, it was failing.

Voters also approved a capital levy for technology projects in Tukwila, the only area district without a previous levy or bond issue for technology. Fifty-five percent of voters approved the $6.3 million, six-year levy.

Other levies easily passed, including large operations issues in Bellevue, Edmonds, Everett, Kent, Lake Washington, Mukilteo, Northshore and Shoreline.

Brian Rosenthal: 206-464-3195 or brosenthal@seattletimes.com