By ELIZABETH CIEPIELA

Staff writer

Amidst concerns of a projected student population decline and infrastructure maintenance costs, several School Board members asked whether the 1999 voter-approved Federal Way Public Schools levy — which allocates $83 million in bond funds to the construction of a new middle school — can be diverted to meet what they consider to be the district’s more pressing and updated needs.

It looks like they can. And, they might.

But not without a fight.

The levy stipulated that the bond dollars be allocated toward the creation of a new middle school, but state law allows the money’s destination to be changed.

“The legal process involves having a public hearing,” deputy superintendent Mark Davidson said.

Charles Hoff, who was sworn in for a new term during Tuesday’s board meeting, said, “The decisions we made when we proposed this levy may not be as valid now as it was then.”

And new board member Evelyn Castellar said, “It’s very important that we include the public. We have a huge responsibility to include (their input) and look again at this.”

Based on the concerns, superintendent Tom Murphy recommended a work-study session for the board to review and discuss the levy questions. That session, open to the public, is set for Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. in the district’s Educational Services Center.

After the meeting, board members will decide whether to add a second work-study session and a possible public forum followed by a public hearing. The final step is a date when the board will decide the fate of final fund allocation.

Several parents shared their thoughts during the board’s meeting last last Tuesday.

Some strongly supported the original levy intent for the creation of a new middle school. They pointed to the overcrowded Illahee and Kilo middle schools — each built to accommodate about 760 students and now overflowing with about 1,000 students — as one basis for their support.

Len Englund told board members “to consider critically the need to press on with this project.”

And Bob Wheeler, whose children attend elementary school, said, “I’m here to support the new middle school. If you can’t afford to build it, then don’t sell the bonds, but don’t play with the money.”

Others implored, chastised and even threatened board members with loss of future voter support if they decided to reconsider the original fund allocation.

Past board member Jim Storvick asked the board not to “shift the money” from its original voter-approved destination.

“Most of us would prefer you not spend our tax money if you don’t think it’s necessary, particularly our bond money,” he said.

“We know what we voted for in 1999,” Storvick added. “Please don’t try an administrative trick to change what over 62 percent of voters approved. Remember, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

Beth Dowsing, whose son attends Lakeland Elementary School, ended her appeal with, “We fought the sex offender housing and we won. So we can fight again.” She referred to citizen opposition that helped block a state proposal to build a halfway house in Peasley Canyon for convicted sex offenders.

Proposition 1, the 1999 general obligation bond, apperaed on ballots twice before passing with the required super-majority — more than 60 percent — approval.

In other board news, King County District Court Judge Judith Eiler swore in the three winning school board candidates from the Nov. 4 election — Bob Millen, Hoff and Castellar. The board then elected Ed Barney as its president, Hoff as vice president and Castellar as legislative representative.

Staff writer Elizabeth Ciepiela: 925-5565, eciepiela@fedwaymirror.com

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