As a 33-year resident and parent living on a fixed income on Education Hill, my wife and I had a hard time stomaching the $1 billion 2014 combined school bond measures — even if it meant our house would increase in value.

We were very concerned about our property taxes drastically going up and the Lake Washington School District’s record of building posh schools. Of course our schools were seriously overcrowded in 2014. Today, overcrowding has reached crisis levels.

When Superintendent Traci Pierce announced the $398 million April bond measure, we found it digestible and our concerns about property taxes and expensive schools were addressed, as follows: 1) The measure will maintain 2015 tax rates. 2) Seven principles for designing practical, cost effective schools will be implemented. And yes, the severe overcrowding will be tackled by building three new schools with increased capacity and rebuilds/enlargements at Juanita High School, Mead and Kirkland Elementary Schools — all for the price of $398 million.

Eric Campbell — a Kirkland parent and developer — described the district’s seven principles for building cost effective schools at a recent Education Hill neighborhood meeting.

Some of the highlights: the district will save money by eliminating or minimizing one-story designs, aesthetics will be pleasing but not based on award-winning architectural designs and buildings will be designed in a more compact manner. New schools will be cost-effective and practical while providing teachers and students the space they need to learn and thrive.

Please vote for the district’s April bond measure.

Bob Yoder

Redmond