Bond Recommendation Process

Highline’s bond recommendation was developed through a community‑led process. The Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) is a community‑led group that reviews school facility needs and develops bond recommendations for the school board to consider. The committee was created to bring community voice into bond planning from the beginning.

CFAC was established in 2015 following two unsuccessful bond measures and was designed to ensure strong community involvement in future facilities planning. The committee's role is to review facility needs, study enrollment trends, evaluate project options, and develop recommendations for potential bond measures. CFAC successfully developed the recommendations that led to the voter-approved 2016 and 2022 bond programs.

Over two school years, CFAC reviewed building conditions, site challenges, enrollment trends, cost estimates, tax projections and districtwide facility needs. Members compared multiple project options and bond amounts, gathered community feedback, and worked toward a recommendation to present to the school board. The school board decides whether to place a bond measure on the ballot for voters.

 Learn More CFAC Details and Meeting Summaries

Membership of CFAC

The Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) includes residents selected by lottery and representatives appointed by jurisdictions, community organizations, staff labor organizations and high schools.

Municipalities, community organizations and staff labor organizations are invited to appoint one member. The district’s four comprehensive high schools are each invited to appoint one student, for about 20 appointees total.

City jurisdictions are encouraged to appoint staff members involved in planning, facilities or related work. These appointees serve as voting members. Jurisdictions may also appoint elected officials, who are welcome to participate as nonvoting members.

The remaining approximately 20 members are community volunteers selected by lottery. Each session, we invite community members to enter their names in a lottery for open committee seats. We draw names from geographic service areas in our district to maintain balanced representation.

Multi-step process 

The 2026 recommendation was developed by CFAC over two school years. CFAC reviewed information over time, discussed tradeoffs, toured sites, tested options, fielded ThoughtExchanges, and refined ideas before moving toward a recommendation. The process gave members time to revisit ideas as more information became available. 

Many factors considered

CFAC looked at more than the age of a building. Members considered health and safety, building condition, student impact, equity, enrollment, cost, feasibility and long-term value. Members weighed urgency and long-term responsibility. 

Transparency and access 

CFAC meetings, summaries, and materials have been shared publicly throughout the process. This approach is intended to keep the process open and visible while allowing the community-led committee to do its advisory work. 

Meeting Summaries

How CFAC Votes

CFAC members regularly vote on committee business, including leadership positions and recommendations. Voting is used to help establish consensus and guide the committee’s work.

All CFAC members participate in voting except elected officials. Local jurisdictions may appoint staff members involved in planning, facilities or related work to serve as voting representatives. Jurisdictions may also appoint elected officials to participate in CFAC, but elected officials serve as non-voting members.