CFAC Meeting Summary: September 28, 2022
"Rebuilding our aging schools is a continual process. Taking care of our buildings is taking care of our students and staff." —Mika Sundberg, Highline resident and Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) member (pictured below fourth from the left, front row)
Our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) held its first meeting of the 2022-23 school year on Wednesday, September 28, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the district central office. Committee staff and returning CFAC members welcomed new members chosen by lottery to fill empty seats in the four high school service areas and those selected to fill empty seats representing community-based organizations, labor partners and municipalities. Seats are also reserved for high school students representing the various service areas.
Mika Sundberg stepped in to chair the meeting due last-minute emergencies experienced by the usual co-chairs. She is a lottery member of the committee since 2018 and represents CFAC on the Capital Projects Oversight Committee that meets quarterly to review bond spending and construction progress.
Agenda
The meeting agenda included:
- Welcome/Introductions
- Review Norms/Committee Charge
- History of CFAC
- Updates on the 2016 Bond
- Updates on Other Capital Projects
- 2022 Bond Information Presentation & Questions
- Planning for the November 30 CFAC Meeting
- Review Considerations Used For Bond Recommendations
- Takeaways & Feedback
Committee Charge
The committee's charge is to:
- Develop recommendations for future facilities, prioritizing schools built prior to 2000:
- Beverly Park Elementary School
- Big Picture (Manhattan site)
- Cascade Middle School
- Chinook Middle School
- CHOICE Academy (Woodside site)
- Hilltop Elementary School
- New Start High School
- Seahurst Elementary School
- Sylvester Middle School
- Valley View Early Learning
-
Elect 2 representatives of CFAC to serve on the Capital Projects Oversight Committee when a vacancy arises:
The two CFAC representatives serving on the Oversight Committee are:
- Mika Sundberg, 2018 CFAC Lottery
- Alena Tuttle, City of SeaTac representative
CFAC History
The Capital Facilities Advisory Committee was created after two failed bonds (2014, 2015). The committee is led by community members. Half are residents selected by lottery, and half are appointed by community-based organizations, labor partners and municipalities.
- 2015-16 — Phase 1 Bond recommendation (November 2016 Election)
- 2017-18 — Boundary changes recommendation
- 2018-19 — Phase 2 Bond recommendation
- 2019-21 — (Covid, pivot to tech levy, virtual sessions)
- 2021-22 — Revised Phase 2 Bond recommendation (November 2022 Election)
2016 Bond Project Update
Ellie Daneshnia, executive director of Capital Planning & Construction, provided an update on completion of projects funded by the 2016 school bond, and progress on the design-only work for the Evergreen, Tyee and Pacific schools that are proposed for construction in Proposition 1, the Highline Schools Bond on November 8, 2022 ballots.
- Highline High School - opened fall 2021
- Glacier Middle School - opened fall 2019
- Des Moines Elementary School - opened fall 2019
- Olympic Interim Site - renovated, opened fall 2019
- Electronic Locks - all phases complete; some additional locks are being added.
- Critical Needs - completed painting, carpeting, roofing repairs, play structure tile surfacing, boiler replacements, etc.
- 3 Design-only Projects
- Evergreen High School - ready to file for building permits if bond passes
- Tyee High School - ready to file for building permits if bond passes
- Pacific Middle School - ready to start design development phase if bond passes
Updates on Non-bond Capital Projects
Daneshnia updated committee members are a handful of projects that are funded with non-bond capital funds and grants:
- Heating & ventilation upgrades at some older schools - ESSER funding (does not include air conditioning)
- Resurfacing of Memorial Stadium Track - funded in part by a grant from King County Parks.
- Bowling Alley update, phase 1 - work is ongoing to make the bowling alley next to the central office a useful space; it was part of purchasing the needed parking lot in front of it; there is a plan to refurbish 10 of the lanes for use by district girls bowling teams, as students expressed interest in this additional girls sport. Additional interior space is being evaluated for various district uses.
- Central Office space review - ongoing to determine equitable and effective use of existing office space
- Electric bus updates - Three electric buses and charging stations were grant funded; in use, with plans for additional electric buses and charging stations through grant programs.
- 100-kilowatt solar panel installation at Highline High School - The solar panel installation is complete and sending electricity to the school; final work to connect the solar arrays to the grid and track input in order to receive renewable energy credits from Seattle City Light is nearly complete. The solar panels received funding from a the Washington State Department of Commerce grant co-written with HHS Environmental Club students, mentors and volunteers. Additional funds were raised and donated to the district through a grassroots effort by the students.
2022 Bond Presentation & Discussion
Catherine Carbone Rogers, chief communications officer, presented information about Proposition 1: Highline Schools Bond on November 8 ballots. She shared the slides presented in community meetings around the district.
- The 2022 bond would continue our commitment to replace aging school buildings with safe, modern learning facilities.
- Prop. 1 would rebuild three schools and fund critical improvements across Highline while keeping taxes stable.
- Evergreen High School (1955) - 10 buildings
- If the bond is approved, a new Evergreen would open in September 2025
- Tyee High School (1963) - 9 buildings
- If the bond is approved, a new Tyee would open in September 2025
- Pacific Middle School (1960) - 8 buildings
- If the bond is approved, a new Pacific would open in September 2027
- Evergreen High School (1955) - 10 buildings
"Having the schools already designed saves taxpayers money," said Carbone Rogers. "Construction costs are increasing. For every month we wait, if the bond is not approved, we estimate that we will have to add $2 million dollars to the total cost of the bond."
The list of critical needs and improvements includes:
- Replenish the capital fund for emergency repairs, like boilers, etc.
- Roofing, painting, carpeting, heating/ventilation or other improvements
- Sylvester Middle School synthetic field & track
- Replace transportation building
- Remodel a site for Virtual Academy
- Maritime High School - district contribution
"Highline has a 20-year track record of delivering school construction projects on time and on budget," Carbone Rogers said. "The projects funded by the 2016 bond were completed on time and $10 million under budget. We are committed to continuing this positive momentum until all students are learning in safe, modern facilities."
She said that once Evergreen and Tyee high schools are rebuilt, then every high school service area in our district will have a modern facility.
Bonds require 60% voter approval. Dropboxes open October 20 and the deadline to vote is November 8 by 8:00 p.m.
Planning for Nov. 30 CFAC Meeting
If the 2022 Bond is approved:
- Initial bond progress plan
- Review updated building condition scores, coming soon
- Continue to prioritize next 10 aging schools
- Schedule school tours, if requested
If the 2022 Bond is NOT approved by voters:
- Discuss next steps
- Superintendent Duran plans to attend.
Considerations For Bond Recommendations
Committee members briefly reviewed the following rationale that have been considered in the past when prioritizing schools for future school bonds.
- Age of buildings
- Building condition scores
- Special programs
- Future plans (known)
- District directions, needs (emerging)
- Size of impact (number of students)
- Enrollment projections
Next CFAC Meetings
Wednesdays, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Boardroom, Central Office, 15675 Ambaum Blvd SW, Burien
- November 30
- January 25
- March 22
All are welcome to attend and listen.
