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Issaquah board launches Capital Projects Oversight Committee to review bond and levy spending
Summary
Board and capital‑projects staff described the newly formed oversight committee, its purpose to increase transparency for bond and levy funds, who is on it and next steps including monthly reporting and a June meeting.
The Issaquah School District has launched a Capital Projects Oversight Committee to review expenditures, monitor project progress and increase transparency around voter‑approved bond and levy funds, district staff reported.
Tom Mullins, director of capital projects, told the board that 24–26 community members attended the committee's opening meeting. The group includes parents, community members and students with experience in construction, engineering, finance and project management. Mullins said the committee is intended as an accountability measure to provide the public with assurance that bond and levy funds are managed according to district objectives.
Mullins reviewed the status of major capital work: the 2018 critical repairs program was nearing completion with most projects expected to close by the end of the summer; the 2022 capital levy projects remain in process; and lead testing of water systems has been identified as a future project to be undertaken when required. He also listed other work in progress, such as elevator modernization at Beaver Lake/Elk Ridge Middle School and energy efficiency audits funded by state grants at Skyline and Liberty high schools. Mullins said the district received a Department of Commerce grant to support clean‑buildings performance measures at Issaquah High School.
The committee spent substantial time on questions about financial transparency, bond delivery challenges and enrollment and overcrowding. Staff said they compiled meeting comments — including diverse viewpoints — and summarized themes using AI tools as part of their post‑meeting analysis. The committee will receive monthly budget status reports, have access to the district's Capital Projects website, and meet next on June 17.
Board members asked for a demographic breakout of committee membership to show how many members are not parents or staff; staff agreed to provide that data and to include it in the next capital projects update. Mullins said the committee will identify members who can periodically report out to the board at future meetings.
