Bonds and Levies

This funding ensures all students in Issaquah School District have the same opportunities to learn, grow and succeed. Local Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy funding allows us to provide the quality education our community expects for our children, which goes beyond the minimum funded by the state. Our levy makes up approximately 15 percent of our current revenue. 

EP&O Levy Needs

• Student academic programs, including:
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE)
  • Highly Capable Program
  • Dual Language Immersion Program
• Mental Health Counselors
• Early Childhood Learning and preschool opportunities
• Special Education
• Professional development
• Curriculum materials and training
• Safety and security
• Extracurricular activities
• Athletics
• 7-period schedule at Issaquah and Skyline High Schools

A capital levy provides funding for items that require a larger sum to acquire, improve, or maintain a school building or a technology solution.

Technology Needs

The state provides a minimum amount of funding for technology in schools. At the same time, the need for technology in our school district continues to grow. 

More and more traditional book-based curricula include digital resources. Other educational software programs can supplement learning or give students who need extra help another way to learn. Classroom technology enables teachers to enhance classroom learning. 

In addition, running a school district creates the same needs for business systems that a corporation with over 3,000 employees would need. In fact, those business systems are critical since the district must report to the state, the federal government, and to our community members how district dollars are spent. 

The Capital Levy supports Education Technology, including:

• Equipment replacement (ex. desktops, laptops, classroom technology)
• Software updates and subscriptions

Facility Needs

Capital projects also ensure buildings and sites are properly maintained over time. Major systems such as roofs, hot water systems, lighting, and flooring are replaced or upgraded on a life-cycle basis. Physical education and athletic facilities can be renovated to ensure safety. Health and safety upgrades to buildings can be installed.

Capital projects are needed to ensure major building and site systems are replaced when at the end of their useful life or that upgrades are made for educational or health and safety reasons.

The Capital Levy supports Capital Projects, including:

• Building maintenance and improvements 
• Grounds maintenance and improvements 

The state funding we receive does not cover the full cost of a transportation department including maintenance and the replacement of old busses that are no longer equipped for our use. And, similar to the rest of K-12 education, the state has not consistently funded school bus replacement during the last 20 years. Only partial funding is provided to replace school buses, and there is not funding to cover growing transportation needs.

Transportation Needs

The Transportation Levy supports transportation needs, including: 

• Replacement buses for aging buses in the fleet 

By law, bonds may not be used to pay for the day-to-day costs of operating schools or school districts. Bonds provide funds only for capital projects, such as:

• New schools
• Acquisition of property
• Renovation or modernization of schools and athletic facilities