Don’t reward financial mismanagement. On the April 26 levy, vote NO on ISD’s Proposition 2 to demand accountability from the School District.

ISD's new $36 million dollar administration building

Let’s be very clear:  We are FOR kids and FOR public education!  But, we are NOT FOR school administrators who mismanage public funds, are not transparent, trample on the environment, and consistently ignore the valid concerns of their constituents.
 
In the Half BILLION-dollar 2016 bond issue campaign, the Issaquah School District (ISD) promised us new schools. They gave themselves a new Administration Building. 















(Read the ISD resolution that "reallocated" 2016 funds away from schools to finance the new administration building.  This resolution refutes ISD's claim that the building was "separately bonded.")
Instead, we got:

• Shady redistribution of funds from the voter-approved 2016 school bond in order to develop the administration building
• Massive cost overruns on planned High School #4: $78 MILLION and counting
• Significant budget overruns on other school construction and remodels: $55 MILLION and counting
• Postponed construction of Elementary School #17 which will require an additional levy to fund
• Numerous environmental issues in the plan for High School #4, ignored
• Public and expert comments on the numerous design inadequacies in the plan for High School #4, ignored
• Spending millions on duplicate facilities in the plan for High School #4 instead of on teachers and student education

Furthermore, ISD’s own enrollment forecasts show that High School #4 and Elementary School #17 may never actually be needed in the future.
 
Proposition 2, on the April 26 Levy ballot, includes $44 MILLION to partially fill the $78 MILLION budget deficit on High School #4.  The other $34 Million comes from ISD’s “reallocation” of the funds from the postponed Elementary School #17.

On April 26, vote NO on ISD’s Proposition 2.

What’s so bad about ISD’s Proposition 2?

1. We voted YES for the Issaquah School District’s 2016 bond to build new schools, then the School Board moved tens of millions from that bond to pay for a new Administration Building. Prop 2 rewards this financial mismanagement.
2. The 2022 Levy Committee combined technology and construction into it.
   Prop 2 denies us the choice to say YES to technology, and NO to mismanaged construction projects and rewards this underhanded strategy.
3. This plan for High School #4 is a BAD plan: - Only one primary exit makes it unsafe for our kids if there’s a fire, natural disaster or active shooter.  -Too much on too little land: the City of Sammamish urged district administrators to reduce the scope of the project.  - The City of Issaquah’s Planning Policy Commission voted against full rezoning of the site and to leave room for a city park with hiking trails.   - The City of Issaquah’s Development Commission asked ISD for redesigned plans to better fit the site.  Prop 2 rewards this bad planning.
4. Other mismanaged ISD construction projects have been woefully over budget:
   -  Discovery, Endeavour, Cougar Ridge, and Sunset were over budget more than $55 million. 
   -  Now there’s no money for the promised Elementary School #17.
   Prop 2 rewards this financial mismanagement.
5. A total of over 500 public and subject-matter expert comments were submitted to ISD on their two bogus environmental determinations, and to the Issaquah Development Commission on the plan for High School #4 and Elementary School #17.  In spite of numerous, obvious, adverse environmental impacts of the plan, absolutely NO substantive changes have been made to it:
   - ISD has steadfastly refused to develop an independent Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project.
   - ISD claims they have increased the width of the perimeter buffer substantially. However, there is nothing in the plan to ensure the buffer will be properly irrigated in order to sustain it.
   - Over 70% of the surface area of the site will be impervious, drastically increasing the volume of stormwater outflow from the site.  This will have significant adverse impacts on Laughing Jacobs Creek and its Salmon habitat.
   - Increased stormwater outflow volume will also endanger nearby hazardous slopes, increasing the risk of landslides.
   - Traffic on 228th Ave SE will be significantly increased, adversely impacting commuters and nearby residential areas:

            - 4,500 new trips per weekday during the school year
            - 60% of students will be bussed from other areas
            - Expansion to 7 lanes at the single site entry/exit at taxpayer expense
            - No safe way for students to walk or bike to the schools
        Prop 2 rewards this environmental malfeasance.
Other Issaquah School District Administration Subterfuge:

• City of Sammamish: The proposed campus will create unnecessary environmental impacts.  ISD Administrators: This plan for high school #4 won’t impact the environment.
• City of Issaquah’s New Climate Action Plan: We urge new developments to maintain tree canopy. ISD Administrators: We will remove 77% of the existing trees.
• City of Issaquah’s “Green Issaquah Project:” Trees benefit the people who live, work, learn and play here. ISD Administrators: “There is bark-like texture on the exterior of the buildings to mimic the bark of a tree.”
• ISD promotional signs: "Renew our levies."  Fact: The Prop 2 construction portion is NOT a renewal; it is a NEW levy.

On April 26, vote NO on ISD’s Proposition 2!

Endorsed by Teachers Not Bleachers
 
For further information, contact us at [email protected]
Please consider making a contribution to our campaign by sending a check to CCARE, 3020 Issaquah Pine Lake RD SE #134, Sammamish, WA. 98075. 
Thank you.

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