On February 11, the voters of Lake Stevens made the appropriate vote to approve the proposed $116 million Lake Stevens School District Bond which will enable the construction of the P-5 campus, remodels to LSHS, and district wide security upgrades.

The new facilities are way past due for the Lake Stevens School District. LSHS has degrading bathrooms that produce nasty odors down the halls, outdated portables that are moldy, and gyms that are too small for comfortable student-teacher interaction. In addition, the Special Education, vocal and musical programs have quadrupled and when it rains there are mini waterfalls from drains and lakes that students can literally swim in. The elementary schools are overflowing, five out of six are over capacity, there is no more room for portables, and security and safety is not up to par.

The P-5 campus will be built on school-owned land just off Lake Drive and Soper Hill Road, which will include a large area for bus, staff, and parent parking; an elementary school; and an early learning center with an indoor playground. Initiatives for LSHS include new extensions to the Special Education Department, music and athletic buildings; replacement of heating, ventilation, roofing and electrical; upgraded restrooms; and improvement for student/staff parking lots and bus loading areas. In all schools, updated security and emergency response systems will be installed.

The bond needed to be approved because it creates a better community here.The new facilities are going to make Lake Stevens an even more popular location for schooling and better our opportunities by expanding and improving educational facilities in the district. The voters made the correct choice to approve the bond and improve their community and its expanding population