Two New Schools on the Ballot
Yakima School District Superintendent Trevor Greene came to Eisenhower High School’s journalism class on Friday, December 5th, for a press conference with the Eisenhower’s Five Star Journal staff, ASB leaders, and other students who were interested in attending. Greene came to provide information about the bond measure he is proposing to place on the April ballot.
Greene explained that the need for the bond stems from the Yakima School District’s lack of income. Stating, “Unfortunately, the legislature doesn’t live up to its requirements that the state has put in its constitution, and for this reason, we do, as a system, and systems across the state; we have to run bonds and levies so we can function in ways that we couldn’t with the state and local funding.”
Though Washington State allocates funds for “basic education,” it doesn’t cover the costs of operating, maintaining, and constructing schools in Yakima. It funds only a limited amount for all students. This is a problem, since schools need much more than just the bare minimum to operate successfully. This is where bonds and levies come in as essential funding for the betterment of each Yakima student. From the state, each district receives a per-student amount of money. For Yakima, each student is funded $16,060 each year in the district. Comparatively, that’s way less than Edmond’s and Tacoma’s School districts, which are receiving $5,000 or more per student than we are. Contributing over $75,000,000 more to their yearly budget than the Yakima School District. Superintendent Greene stated, “As a student, and a tax payer, this would make me upset because I would think that we have a system that looks out for those who need a little bit more support in their communities and at the very least make it even, but it’s not even equal.” This is a problem because when we don’t have funds for when an emergency comes about we have to take it from the students “basic funding” which should be going to basic education.
In Yakima County, 33 bonds have been attempted, and only 15 have passed. The Yakima School District has not put a bond measure on the ballot since the bond for the new Eisenhower and Davis buildings, over ten years ago. In Washington State, a 60% majority is required to pass a bond. From February 2014 to April 2025, over $19 billion in bond funds has been distributed throughout the state. Over $320 million of that was approved by schools in Yakima County.
Passing the bond in April will not only provide $200 million in local funding but will also unlock $20 million in state funding. This funding will only be available if the bond passes. The bond will fund the construction of Hoover and Garfield elementary schools, which are in horrible condition due to multiple decades without repairs and improvements, Title 9/ADA Upgrades; repaving of sidewalks, courtyards, a new softball facility for Davis, new asphalt- HVAC systems, future projects/emergency reserve, playground upgrade/replace, roof replacements, turf replacement, and resurface track/courts.
$200 million bond may sound daunting to pass, but the Yakima School District is asking for relatively little considering all the projects that will be funded. Compared to Rainier Beach High School, in Seattle, which passed a $297 million bond to build a new building for under 1,000 students. The district is asking for $97 million less than that, with amenities that would benefit all 15,000+ kids in the district. 15 times the impact of the bond for Rainier Beach High School.
