Well-known as a former, but longtime member of the Northshore School District Board of Directors, B-Z Davis said levies and bond issues are a kind of litmus test as to the schools’ performance.

Davis added that the local community thinks the schools are performing well.

Results are far from final, but tallies in the Feb. 9 special election so far are running in the district’s favor, showing voter approval of all three issues floated by the school system.

“It is a relief,” said Northshore Superintendent Larry Francois. “Although the results won’t be validated until Feb. 24, we are thankful for the passage of all three measures to support our schools.”

The latest combined numbers from King and Snohomish county election officials show the district’s operating levy passing 18,547 to 9,093. A smaller levy advertised as supporting classroom technology is winning approval by a margin of 17,635 to 9,130.

Finally, a $149 million bond issue to support capital improvements throughout the district is winning voter approval in King County at a rate of 10,963 to 6,604, or 62.4 to 37.5 percent.

In Snohomish County, the bond issue is being approved 5,565 to 3,469 or 61.6 to 38.4 percent.

In the case of the bond issue, the percentages are particularly important. In order to carry the day, the bond sale ultimately must receive a supermajority of at least 60 percent of all voters.

Both levy questions are renewals, asking for continuation of existing levies set to expire at the end of 2010. The operations issue would raise $169 million over the next four years. Francois, Davis and other district leaders repeatedly have emphasized that the levy represents 20 percent of the Northshore district’s total funding.

The much smaller technology levy would bring in $24 million over four years. The bond sale will pay for major renovations at Woodinville High and Kenmore Junior High, as well as replacing roofs and carpeting at several buildings.

Both Francois and Davis took time to praise voters for their seeming faith in the district.

“We have a tight-knit, supportive community and many in our community have attended Northshore schools,” Francois said. “There is a long-standing tradition of support for our schools and we are truly thankful. Our community seems to understand the importance of supporting quality public education even, or particularly when, times are tough.”

Mostly citing decreases in state funding, Northshore officials sliced $6.4 million out of their most recent budget. Initially, as proposed by the district administration, the schools’ spending plan included the elimination of 18 elementary and 12 secondary teaching slots. Ultimately, those reductions were achieved through normal attrition and transfers with no layoffs needed.

Another proposed spending reduction would have eliminated all junior-high sports. Francois said even with passage of the operating levy, officials will not be able to restore reduced or eliminated services.

“Since two-thirds of our funding comes from the state,” Francois said, “passing our levies unfortunately does not mean we are immune to further budget reductions depending upon the actions of the legislature.”

Francois expressed a hope that the recent ruling in the lawsuit filed by a coalition of schools, including Northshore, will spur state legislators into addressing school funding issues.

In ruling in the case, King County Superior Court Judge John Erlick stated that Washington has not lived up to its obligation to make funding basic education its top priority.

Even if the district’s financial problems aren’t over, according to Francois, he did say the district now can move forward on a couple of fronts.

“The successful bond will enable us to proceed in very short order with the next phases of Kenmore Junior High and Woodinville High,” he said.

Francois added the district will continue implementing its technology plan, funded through the end of December 2010 by a levy approved by voters in 2006. The renewal issue just before voters should begin to should begin to pay for more classroom electronics in the winter of 2011.

Davis was not seemingly too surprised by the early results of the election. A co-chair of the committee promoting the school issues, she said a small survey done in January showed the two levy issues were likely to meet with success. Approval of the bond sale did not seem as solid and therefore, Davis said her committee focused on selling that question.

“We see the schools as assets,” she said. “The bond... it’s about maintaining those assets.”

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