Capital Projects Oversight Committee Meets

The district’s Capital Projects Oversight Committee gathered for a regular meeting on May 12, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Staff shared a presentation highlighting updates on the New High School project, the status of the 2022 Critical Repairs Levy, and planning for the 2026 Critical Repairs Levy. Committee members heard several updates and key information, including:

• Construction on the New High School (Phase 1A) began with sitework on April 1, 2026, with clearing, grading and excavation currently underway.
• The design-build team continues to coordinate with the Cities of Issaquah and Sammamish on remaining permits.
• The project remains on schedule, with an anticipated opening in August 2027.
• A groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 24.

The committee also received a budget update for the New High School and reviewed the overall construction schedule.

Staff provided an update on the 2022 Critical Repairs Levy, noting that work continues across the district, including significant roof repair and replacement projects and HVAC improvements at multiple schools. As of March 31, 2026, approximately $2.23 million remains in the 2022 levy for projects in progress and planned work.

The committee also discussed planning for the 2026 Critical Repairs Levy. Staff explained that projects are organized by priority over the four-year levy cycle and may be adjusted over time based on changing conditions, project costs and district needs.

Because levy funds are collected over time rather than upfront, project timing is tied to the annual availability of funding.

Questions and Discussion

Committee members asked questions about several key topics, including future phases of the New High School site, the project budget and construction schedule, remaining 2022 levy funds and cost pressures, and how projects are prioritized and funded through the 2026 Critical Repairs Levy.

Discussion also included how the district prioritizes projects based on critical need, coordinates input from schools and operations staff, and plans for future work using lifecycle data, inflation assumptions and past project experience. Staff emphasized that near-term projects (next 6–12 months) have greater cost certainty, while projects further out are planning estimates informed by asset lifecycle and historical trends.

Members asked about the strategy of stacking or accelerating multiple projects at the same time, including whether borrowing against future levy collections could create long-term cost savings; staff noted that while financing is possible, it involves risk and can be a “gamble,” as interest costs may outweigh potential savings from inflation.

The committee also requested additional clarity on how past project savings and overruns are tracked and how surplus funds are applied. Staff indicated that while savings do occur, any reallocation remains consistent with voter-approved intent within each levy cycle (for example, 2018, 2022 or 2026). Capital repair funds are grouped into categories — such as HVAC, roofing and building systems — rather than tied to fully pre-identified projects, allowing flexibility to address the most critical needs as they arise.

Members further discussed how future projects could be categorized by type, such as safety and security, building and maintenance upgrades, and sports or multi-purpose improvements. Staff noted that some projects may serve more than one purpose; for example, athletic field replacements support both student activities and safety needs. Committee members suggested that grouping investments by category or percentage could provide clearer insight into how funds are allocated across priorities over time.

Additional discussion touched on the importance of clearly communicating longer-term planning assumptions, including how capital planning aligns with asset lifecycle needs and multi-year capital reserve considerations, while maintaining a clear focus on near-term, deliverable projects.

Staff also highlighted opportunities for grant funding to offset costs, the ability to fund capital staff through the levy, and how savings from prior levies can be reinvested in other voter-approved needs.

The committee members will meet next on September 15, 2026.

Previous meeting summaries and presentations can be downloaded and viewed on the Capital Projects Oversight Committee web page.