Lake Washington School District (LWSD) is growing rapidly.

It has grown from the sixth-largest district to the fourth-largest district in the state since last year. The district has grown by more than 3,200 students in the last five years. That’s an average of over 625 students per year for the last five years, which is equivalent to five large elementary schools. Growth is projected to continue, reaching more than 30,000 students by 2020-21 and more than 32,000 students by 2029-30.

To meet these growing needs for classroom space, the district’s board of directors voted on Monday to place a bond measure on the April 26 ballot. This measure, for $398 million in 20-year bonds, would fund the most immediate, high priority needs. The total tax rate will be maintained at the 2015 rate.

“Our district is at a critical point with regard to classroom space,” said board President Nancy Bernard. “Moving to all-day kindergarten and reducing class sizes thanks to new state funding increases our need for more classroom space. At the same time our enrollment continues to grow.”

The measure would build one new middle school and two new elementary schools and would rebuild and enlarge three schools (Juanita High School and Kirk and Mead elementary schools). It would also replace the Explorer Community School classrooms and refurbish the Old Redmond Schoolhouse for use by preschool classes.

These projects are among those identified by the district’s Long Term Facilities Planning Task Force. This citizen-based 63-member group spent nearly a year analyzing the district’s facility needs, engaging the community and developing recommendations including specific construction projects needed through the 2029-30 school year as well as strategies for efficient and cost-effective facility designs.

“Our community is very supportive of our schools,” noted Superintendent Dr. Traci Pierce. “They also want to be assured their tax dollars are being well spent. The Long Term Facilities Planning Task Force developed a road map that will provide students with productive learning environments while keeping a close watch on costs.”

A separate advisory committee provided feedback on a funding plan to carry out the task force recommendations. This bond measure is the first of four projected measures. Three subsequent measures, in 2018, 2022 and 2026 would fund the longer-term needs. They would also maintain the 2015 tax rate. The funding plan is designed to be comprehensive, responsible, cost-conscious and fiscally disciplined. It is designed to reduce the district’s reliance on portable classrooms. By the end of the 2016-17 school year, 14 percent of district classrooms will be in portables.

Complete information on the bond measure, including all projects, is available on the district website at www.lwsd.org.