Highline Public Schools announced Thursday (April 23) that it is seeking input from the community on how to address the district’s need to build, repair, and renovate schools to meet educational needs, safety standards, and the community’s growing student population. After failing to reach the 60 percent vote needed to pass a capital construction bond, both in November 2014 and February 2015, the district must now decide how to address pressing enrollment and facility needs. Student enrollment in Highline is projected to grow by 2,500 students over the next 8-10 years. “We will not ask the community to vote on a bond in 2015,” said Superintendent Susan Enfield. “Instead, we will take this year to listen to the community and learn more about what our parents, staff, and community members want to see as a solution.” To collect feedback, Highline is launching a short online survey on April 23. The survey is easy to access and is a convenient way to share input and ideas. The survey is open until Monday, May 11. All are invited to take the survey. Results will remain anonymous and input will help the superintendent and school board develop a plan for meeting the needs of students and staff.

To take the 10-minute survey, visit: highlineschools.org/survey

The survey asks questions about building new schools versus repairing aging buildings, and various alternative solutions such as adding portables, creating double-shift schedules, and increasing class sizes. Community members are also invited to participate in a series of community meetings with Superintendent Enfield, School Board members, and district leaders. Several conversations with the superintendent and board members are scheduled over the next several weeks. The sessions are intended to be open-ended conversations. The board and superintendent want to hear about the issues that are important to the community. Conversations with the Superintendent:
  • Monday, April 27, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Evergreen Campus library
  • Thursday, May 21, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Tyee Educational Complex library
  • Tuesday, June 2, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Highline High School library
Conversations with the School Board
  • Angelica Alvarez: Monday, May 4, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Sylvester Middle School library
  • Tyrone Curry Sr.: Tuesday, June 9, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Cascade Middle School library
Two community meetings about next year’s budget challenges are schedule for early May. Participants in these meetings will learn the facts about the budget impact of the November and February bond failures and how Highline’s growing enrollment will impact students and teachers next school year. Participates will also have the opportunity to share their budget priorities for next year. Budget Community Meetings:
  • Thursday, May 7, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. in the Hazel Valley Elementary library
  • Tuesday, May 12, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. in the Midway Elementary library
Highline is also developing a plan to form a long-term facilities planning task force. The district will seek family, student, staff, and community member volunteers to form the task force, which will help develop a plan for the next capital construction bond measure. Information about participation in the task force will be shared with the community soon.]]>

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4 replies on “Highline Public Schools seeking feedback on aging facilities & crowding issues”

    1. Just saying no is not an answer. There is a problem with the schools that need a solution that can’t be ignored. All the no voters must have another solution so put it out there.

      1. r miller, where have you been what rock did you crawl out from? we the Highline Cummunity have voiced our thoughts, opinions and our plans to Superintendent Enfield and her Board Members countless times only to be dismissed and ignored, they refuse to listen to the voice of the cummunity.
        No to new schools not once but twice now, time to repair and maintain our schools that Superintendent Enfield and her Board Members have allowed to deteriorate.

        1. Hey John Castronover with your wife and yours connection to the ssos it’s going be a real up hill battle for anyone to trust what you have to say on anything about the schools or anything else. I mean yes the bond failed most likely do to the relentless B.S that the ssos posted on here and other sites in the area. Then if anyone does any research on the ssos members they can find out that your bunch a right winged republicans that don’t care about people at all it’s all about the money in your pocket . They can also find out about how one of your members/supporters is a ex-mayor that stole $50,000 from the public. But then you want to act like school district is not trying to fix the problems and there the ones that wrong hmm sure ok.

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