Issaquah School Board member briefs Sammamish council on revised bond measure headed to Feb. 11 ballot

Matt Coyne, who identified himself as representing the Issaquah School Board, used the public comment period to brief the Sammamish City Council on the school district’s revised bond measure, which the board approved for the Feb. 11 special election.

Coyne said the November bond measure failed to reach the 60% supermajority Washington requires for bond passage, though it received approximately 50% support. In response to community feedback, the school board reduced the measure’s total to $231,600,000 (a reduction the presenter described as about 63% from the November measure) and structured the revised measure to maintain the current combined tax rate of $3.90 per $1,000 of assessed value, according to Coyne’s remarks.

The revised bond, Coyne said, focuses on two main priorities: safety and security projects and high school capacity. Coyne described the safety and security component as funding upgrades including fire systems and vestibules at the district’s three comprehensive high schools, plus cameras, intercoms, gates and fencing. He said the high school capacity component—roughly $191,700,000 as stated in the meeting—would allow the district to proceed with a shovel-ready new comprehensive high school (property and permits in hand) and expand/remodel Liberty High School for career programming.

Coyne also said the district plans a capital projects oversight committee to increase project accountability and asked the Sammamish City Council to consider passing a resolution in support of the Feb. 11 measure.

Why it matters: The bond would fund major district capital projects, including a new high school, safety upgrades and career-program expansions. Council received the update during public comment and did not take action on it tonight.

Next steps: The bond appears on the Feb. 11 special election ballot; the district will form an oversight committee and continue outreach to voters.