Study up on school levy: you’ll be tested

It’s not often that voters have to think three elections ahead. Many folks may still be trying to sort out the

mayoral primary – those all-mail ballots must be sent

back to the elections office by Sept. 20, and we think you should go with Kordonowy or Tooloee – with the final mayor’s

contest and council seats to be decided on the general ballot mere weeks thereafter.

But there’s another ballot coming down the pike – next spring, it appears – and islanders should start paying

attention now. Early next year, the Bainbridge Island School District will ask the community for a lot of money to shore up crowded and failing buildings at local campuses. Topping the needs list is Bainbridge High School, where this week nearly 1,500 eager students were shoehorned onto a campus designed for perhaps 900. Other aging Bainbridge schools face a litany of safety deficiencies and physical needs. A citizen committee has recommended that the school district put a $45.47 million bond before voters next year to redress the most glaring needs, but that number could go up or down depending what projects are added to or cut from the mix.

Islanders asked for school master planning, and school

master planning they certainly got. And this coming Monday, the entire master plan document – more than 250 pages – goes online at www.bainbridge.wednet.edu. Click the link under the “Good News/Bad News” introduction to find the document; register, and you’ll be able to participate in ongoing online discussions on the plan and its implications.

For those more comfortable outside the virtual realm – and who doesn’t feel more loquacious with a latte or cup of tea at hand – a series of informal “coffee conversations” with school officials and volunteers is planned. The first will be held from 9-11 a.m. Sept. 27 at Bainbridge Bakers, and the second at the same time Sept. 30 at Bagels and Beans; watch the Review’s calendar for other events.

It’s part of a serious (and frankly, welcome) effort by the school district to engage the public as the bond is crafted, while the vote itself is still months away. And while few people are going to read the whole master plan document, parents should at least look for the section on needs at whichever school their child attends, and maybe read the executive summary. Again, the document is online starting Monday.

Study up. You will be tested.

Ann is No. 1

Also coming through the transom this week was word that Ann Lovejoy, long-time Review columnist and beautifier of the library grounds, has been named 2005 Citizen of the Year by our local Kiwanis Club.

“Cheerful, generous and hard-working, Ann epitomizes the ‘Citizen of the Year’ spirit,” the club said, “and Kiwanis is very proud to be able to recognize her community service.” As are we; one of the writers even whipped up a feature story to herald the honor, but it got bumped at the last minute into next Wednesday’s issue for want of space today.

So, know that Ann will be feted at the Kiwanis Installation Banquet, at 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at IslandWood. The community is invited, and can make reservations to Greg Geehan (855-1238) by Sept. 18.

Congratulations, Ann. Bloomin’ good.