Oversight Committee Reviews Bond Progress & Financials 

Committee Ensures Transparency in School Construction 

Highline’s Capital Projects Oversight Committee met in February for its quarterly review of bond spending and construction progress. “Great work!” said committee member Stuart Mathews, assistant director of aviation project management for the Port of Seattle. 

The Oversight Committee, made up of local industry experts and community representatives, ensures transparency in using voter-approved funds to replace and upgrade school facilities. 

Meeting Summary 

Key items covered during the meeting included:  

• The second sale of 2022 school bonds took place January 28. Highline received more than enough purchase offers, resulting in lower interest than expected. 
   
• Some funds from the critical needs and capital improvements line item in the bond budget have been approved for a boiler review by McKinstry with future systematic replacement of boilers scheduled for summers as needed to avoid emergency outages, increase efficiency and save utility costs over time. 
   
• In addition, Highline is contracting with McKinstry to provide a facilities condition assessment. This report, and a new tracking and labeling system, will enable Highline to be more proactive in managing and maintaining its building system assets, from installation to end-of-life and replacement. 
   
• The committee worked through a financial report tracking the bond spending and the construction projects listed below. All updates on the quarterly report were within the bond budget. 

Construction Projects 

Committee members were briefed on the status of each of these construction projects: 

• Evergreen High School — under construction, opening fall 2025 
  • Remediation of water damage due to vandalism is progressing; the insurance reimbursement process is ongoing. 
  • The insurance claim for repairs due to water vandalism at Evergreen has a separate line item to designate these costs for reimbursement by insurance. 
     
• Tyee High School — under construction, opening fall 2025 
   
• Pacific Middle School — preconstruction & permitting, opening fall 2027 
   
• Transportation Building — preconstruction & permitting, opening fall 2025 
   
• Southern Heights Building 100 Demolition – completed January 2025 
  • We continue to work with our insurance adjuster on the scope and timeline of next steps for the Southern Heights Site in response to the 2024 fire. 
  • Contractors completed the demolition of the main building/gym (100 Building) at the Southern Heights Site in January. 
  • Some work continues at the Original Beverly Park Site, which is serving as the temporary home of Highline Virtual Academy and Innovation Heights Academy, displaced by the fire at the Southern Heights Site. 
     

Completed Critical Needs/Site Improvement Projects, 2022 Bond, Include: 

• Sylvester Field/Track, Mini Pitch & Restroom — completed summer/fall 2024 
• Memorial Field Synthetic Turf Replacement — completed summer 2024 
• Summer Roofing Projects — completed 2024 
• Hilltop ADA Access Improvements — completed fall 2024 
• Hazel Valley Boiler, Emergency Replacement – completed winter 2024 
• Glacier Freezer, Repair – nearing completion winter 2024-25 

Oversight Committee Members Include: 

• Rose Clark, former chair, Capital Facilities Advisory Committee; former Burien councilmember and more (pictured on the right, middle row) 
• Elizabeth Leavitt, principal for climate response, Jacobs; former senior director of engineering, environment and sustainability at the Port of Seattle. (top row, second from right) 
• Dave Hawthorne, president and owner of Hawthorne & Co. Certified Public Accountants and a Highline High School alum (top, second from left) 
• Stuart Mathews, assistant director of aviation project management, Port of Seattle; mechanical engineer with experience in mechanical systems. (top row, right) 
• Erik Ruffing, virtual design & construction manager, Swinerton Builders; elected by CFAC; attended Highline schools K-12 and is a Highline parent. (left, middle row) 
• Mika Sundberg, designer, SKL Architects; elected by CFAC; is a Highline parent. (top row, left) 

Highline School Board Director Joe Van serves as a liaison to the Oversight Committee. 

Next 

The next meeting of the Capital Projects Oversight Committee is May 13.