Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. School bond construction projects create jobs, support living-wage careers, and provide significant economic benefits for the community. 

Based on Highline’s past construction projects, about 15 to 30 percent of total construction costs have flowed back into the local and regional economy through worker wages, local suppliers, subcontractors, professional services and other project costs. The amount varies based on outreach, contracting and procurement methods, market conditions and project-specific factors. 

Bond-funded projects create work for architects, engineers, construction workers, apprentices, suppliers and local businesses. Because school construction is public work, construction workers are paid prevailing wages established by Washington state.  

State law also requires qualifying public works projects to include apprentice labor. This helps more people enter skilled trades and build family-wage careers. On major projects, at least 15% of labor hours must be completed by apprentices. 

In addition to providing modern learning environments for students, school bond investments strengthen the local economy. They support regional businesses, create career opportunities and return millions of dollars to the communities they serve. 

Highline Capital Planning & Construction staff and the community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee rely on annual enrollment projections from a demographer who does this work for many schools in our region. In addition, planners and designers follow educational specifications, policies and labor contracts that help guide the sizes of schools, classrooms and other school spaces. The goal is not to fill every building to the maximum capacity, but plan ahead to maintain capacity for increased enrollment into the future, reducing or avoiding the need to add emergency portable classrooms in 10-20 years. 

Learn more about how CFAC used enrollment projections in recent bond planning for middle school capacity. 

The Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) is a community‑led group that supports long‑term facilities planning for Highline. Members include residents selected by lottery from our four service areas, and representatives appointed by jurisdictions, community organizations and high schools.   

CFAC reviews Highline’s facility needs and develops recommendations for school bond packages for the school board to consider. The school board makes the final decision on when and what to place on local ballots. CFAC recommended the 2016 and 2022 school bond measures, which voters approved. Learn more about CFAC.

No. Not only would this go against keeping our promise to voters to replace aging school buildings, by law, capital funds may NOT be transferred to the general fund or used to pay for day-to-day costs of running a school district. School district operating funds and capital (bond) funds must be kept in separate accounts and are audited. 

The general fund pays for the day-to-day operations of schools, which includes salaries, supplies, program costs, utilities and routine maintenance. This operating fund receives money from the state and federal government, as well as local funding through our voter-approved education levy.

Bond funds may only be used for capital projects, like buying land, building facilities, making major capital improvements, and paying for costs tied to construction. Salaries and office space for capital projects work, as well as the materials and equipment needed to furnish new buildings, are also legitimate capital expenses.

One way that capital funds do support the operations budget, is by choosing efficient and sustainable construction practices, such as natural day-lighting, efficient HVAC systems, durable construction materials, solar panels, and low-maintenance finishes to reduce ongoing utility bills and maintenance costs in our new buildings.

Local Property taxes & Local Voters

Funding the construction of public schools is up to local voters within our school district. Highline voters decide whether to approve school bonds paid over an extended period of time by Highline taxpayers through their King County property taxes. Sometimes limited state grants are available to help once voters approve a school bond.

2016 & 2022 School Bonds & Future Recommendations

Voters approved Phase 1 of the long-range facilities plan recommended by Highline's community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) in November 2016. Future phases will be funded by additional bonds, if voters approve.

The November 2016 bond funded the design and construction of a new Des Moines Elementary School, Glacier Middle School, Highline High School, and a renovated Olympic Interim Site. The 2016 bond included funds to jumpstart the initial design of new Evergreen and Tyee high schools and a new Pacific Middle School but did not pay for construction.

In November 2022, voters approved Phase 2 of the future facilities plan recommended by CFAC. The November 2022 bond funded the construction of Evergreen, Tyee and Pacific.

Long Gaps Between Approval of School Bonds = Aging Facilities

One of the reasons replacement or renovation of the remainder of our older schools is so far out on the timeline is that Highline voters did not pass a bond for 10 years before the successful 2016 bond. And prior to 2002, there was a 16-year gap between bonds.

Because of these two periods with no new capital funding, Highline has a long list of backlogged capital needs. The school district and local taxpayers face limits in the amount of debt they can legally take on and must vote on what they are willing to take on. Bonds require 60 percent voter approval. 

The community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC), in existence since 2015, continues the patient work of planning for future needs and prioritizing which schools are proposed to voters for replacement, taking into account enrollment fluctuation, geographic trends, building conditions and district programming needs.

Demolition and construction of a new Pacific Middle School began in July 2025.

Pacific students will attend school at the Olympic Interim Site in Des Moines for two years, beginning in September 2025.

The new school is expected to open in September 2027.

Follow along for updates on our school construction progress on the Pacific project page on our website.

In December 2024, we demolished the Southern Heights main office/gym (100 building) that was damaged beyond repair by an arson fire in July 2024. Demolishing this building was necessary for safety reasons. We worked with the insurance adjuster on the scope and timeline of next steps for the project.

In its 2026 bond recommendation to the school board, the Capital Facilities Advisory Committee included a project to rebuild and modernize the Southern Heights Site for CHOICE Academy. The school board placed CFAC's bond recommendation on November 2026 ballots. Initial design work is ongoing, funded by insurance dollars. We will continue to update you as we have more information to share. 

Here are news posts with more information about the Southern Heights fire, response and new design work and proposal:

• CHOICE Academy Design Process Moves Forward | June 12, 2026
• Southern Heights' Main Office and Gym Building Demolished | December 6, 2024
• Emergency Home for IHA & HVA Opens | September 5, 2024 
• Renovations Underway at Original Beverly Park Site | August 22, 2024 
• Southern Heights Fire Damage Update, July 24 | July 24, 2024 
• Southern Heights Site Damaged by Fire | July 10, 2024 

There are many ways to add your voice and get involved in Highline Public Schools.

One important step is to register to vote and vote in every election. Elections determine who is elected to serve in local government positions, including Highline school board seats. We periodically have an education levy or school construction bond on election ballots, so we encourage you to stay informed. Levies require 50% voter approval, while bonds require 60% voter approval. Find out how to register to vote and more from King County Elections.

Are you are interested in helping us plan for the future? When there are empty seats to refill on our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC), we usually hold a lottery in the fall to select new members from Highline residents who volunteer. We invite jurisdictions and community organizations to appoint representatives.

Stay connected with us on social media, our website and newsletter to learn about other opportunities, such as school design review committees, curriculum adoption committees, our Family Action Committee or a parent group.

Learn about ways to be connected and involved in our schools and planning.

The Olympic Interim Site is hosting Pacific Middle School for two years, starting in September 2025. The new Pacific Middle School is expected to open in September 2027.

The Olympic Site hosted Tyee High School during the 2-year construction of a new Tyee facility (2023-24 and 2024-25). 

The 2016 bond provided funds to renovate the Olympic Site as an interim home for Highline High School during construction of the new HHS, which started the summer of 2019. The new HHS opened in September 2021.

From September 2021 to June 2023, the Olympic Site served as the home for two new schools: Highline Virtual Academy and Maritime High School. Maritime High School continues to share the Olympic Interim Site. We hope Maritime High School will eventually be located closer to the Duwamish waterway and port area. 

Highline Virtual Academy staff relocated to shared space with Innovation Heights Academy at the Southern Heights Site (2023-24) and then to the Original Beverly Park Site, starting in September 2024 after a fire damaged Southern Heights.