Supporters busy pushing for school measures

Efforts are in full gear to get the word out about the bond and levy measures for the Renton School District in the Feb. 14 special election.

The district did not do a voter’s pamphlet this year or in 2008 because of the costly expense of sending it out to some 60,000 residences.

Instead, the district has relied on the media, the Citizens for Renton Schools Committee and mailings to educate voters, said Randy Matheson, district spokesperson.

Matheson was at a Kennydale Neighborhood Association meeting Tuesday night to explain the measures.

School district representatives have been present at meetings, large and small, since this past fall.

The citizens campaign is still going on as it works to call a list of about 15,000 voters, Matheson said.

The group is also doing election signs and Bob Bridge of Bob Bridge Toyota has committed to doing TV ads.

The issue people are finding most interesting is the new middle school, said Matheson.

Currently, there are 14 elementary schools in the district that funnel into three middle schools, creating overcrowding.

The new middle school will be built on the property of the old Hazelwood Elementary site in the Newcastle area, if the $97 million Building for a Lifetime of Learning School Construction Bond measure passes.

“It seems like most people understand that the new levies are replacement levies,” said Matheson.

The Education Maintenance and Operations Replacement Levy and the Technology Levy expire at the end of this year.

Matheson is optimistic that the measures will be approved by voters.

There hasn’t been a levy failure in a couple of decades, he said.

The district and the citizens committee will continue to campaign through Feb. 13.

 

Contact Renton Reporter Staff writer Tracey Compton at tcompton@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5052.

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