University Place trustees celebrate levy and bond wins, begin bond planning and warn of possible state funding cut

The University Place School District superintendent reported that all three February ballot measures passed by substantial margins, providing both operating and capital funds that the district will use over the coming years. "All three measures pass by strong margins," the superintendent told the board, citing an educational programs and operations levy passing at about 72%, a safety/technology and capital improvements levy passing at about 73%, and the school construction bond passing at about 69% where 60% was required.

Planning work tied to the construction bond has already begun. Staff said the district issued a request for proposals for architects and hopes to select an architect for the high-school project by May 1 so the design and educational-specs phase can begin. "We're beginning with the high school project. It is the longest and most complex of the three," the superintendent said, adding that staff will bring stakeholders into educational-specification work once an architect is on board.

The superintendent also gave a financial update and a caution on state funding: he said legislative action late in the session appears to reduce or eliminate the district's expected local effort assistance (LEA), an aid program designed to help property-poor districts. "We believed we would be getting in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 million and we see that money going away entirely in two years," he said, calling the change "unexpected and sudden" and warning it could affect funding equity across Washington.

Why this matters: The replacement levies sustain current operations through 2031; the bond funds planned school construction and high-school replacement work that will shape facilities and programs for years. A sudden decline in LEA revenue could require program adjustments or new local funding strategies if the Legislature does not restore that assistance.

Board members applauded the election results and asked staff to keep the community informed. Staff said the district will publish a project webpage and use regular updates and social media to share milestones. On facilities, the superintendent noted an asset-preservation program driven by statute and highlighted that a recent internal assessment showed generally positive building-condition scores, with isolated installation issues (for example, gym-floor underlayment) accounting for a slightly lower score at the high school.

The board did not take a formal vote on bond spending at this meeting; the RFP and early planning steps are the initial procedural actions. Trustees asked staff to monitor legislative developments closely and to report back if the district's LEA funding picture changes.