City of Edmonds

Edmonds' public schools rely on levies and bonds to supplement state funding and provide the best local education possible. Edmonds School District Proposition 1 aims to finance capital projects and improvements to meet the needs of our students through bonds. If approved by voters, the bonds would replace the expiring 2021 Capital Levy and allow accelerated construction on school replacement projects.

Proposed by the Edmonds School Board last year, the authorization of bonds maturing in 25 years would raise around $594 million. They would fund key projects such as the completion of Oak Heights Elementary School construction, the construction of a fifth middle school where Alderwood Middle was located, and the replacement of several other existing, aging schools. A yes vote also enables districtwide upgrades in safety, utilities, and infrastructure, such as boilers, roofs, HVAC, and plumbing. Additionally, the proposition aims to move sixth graders to middle school, giving them access to lab sciences and greater course offerings.

The estimated total bond rate, including previous measures, would be $0.81 in 2025, costing the owner of a median $850,000 Edmonds home about $689 a year.

Of the 34 schools in the district, 15 were constructed over 50 years ago and need upgrades and replacements to give our students the best learning environment possible. Vote Yes on Edmonds School District Proposition 1 to make strong investments in the quality of our local schools and the potential of our students.

To prepare Edmonds students for our dynamic and fast-changing world, we need to offer a high-quality education facilitated by modern technology. Edmonds School District Proposition 2 authorizes the replacement of an expiring 2020 technology capital levy to ensure continued access to key resources in our schools.

Evidence shows that when our schools offer updated infrastructure, safe classrooms, and modern learning resources, our students perform the best. We can’t afford to wait for our students to succeed in spite of their circumstances; it is up to us to invest in high-quality learning environments from the start. Moreover, keeping our schools up to date with technology infrastructure also helps close equity gaps so that all students have the chance to thrive.

At an approximate rate between $0.53 and $0.60 per $1,000 of assessed property level (about $564 in 2025 for the owner of a median-priced $940,000 Edmonds home), the levy would generate an estimated $30 million in the first year alone to invest in our schools. If passed, Proposition 1 would cover the costs of student computers, cybersecurity tools, classroom technology, translation tablets, digital literacy, learning subscriptions, and home internet access for students who cannot otherwise afford it. 

Opponents of the proposition suggest that students should fund their own access to digital literacy through personal devices, but this perspective overlooks equity issues and forms of instructional and security technology that help our schools deliver quality curriculums and safe classrooms.

Vote Yes on Edmonds School District Proposition 2 to ensure our students can meet their highest potential in tomorrow’s increasingly digital world.