Enumclaw School District seeks $12 million capital levy; explores developer-funded elementary in Black Diamond

Enumclaw School District officials told the Enumclaw City Council on March 24 that aging school buildings and projected enrollment gains require immediate maintenance funding and longer-term planning for new capacity.

The district is asking voters to approve a four-year capital levy of $12 million on the April 22 ballot to pay for critical maintenance—roofs, HVAC and kitchen equipment, secure entry upgrades and similar repairs—not for staffing. Deputy Superintendent Jill Burns said the district would ask property owners for an estimated increase of $0.37 per $1,000 of assessed value; Burns and district presenters gave an example that a $600,000 house would pay roughly $18.50 more per month while the levy runs.

The request follows a yearlong citizen focus committee of about 21 residents from Enumclaw and Black Diamond that studied building audits and growth. The committee found multiple facilities—Kibler, Birth to 5 site, Southwood and Westwood—at or near the end of their useful life and classified Enumclaw Middle School as showing rapid deterioration or in need of critical-systems replacement. The committee recommended three things: run a capital facilities levy soon, continue negotiations with Oak Point to address growth, and (later)…