Marysville schools losing hope

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, September 22, 2005

A bond proposal to build new schools in Marysville barely has a pulse, and the race for Lynnwood mayor remains too close to call after more ballots were counted on Thursday.

Thousands of ballots have yet to be counted in Snohomish County.

“It’s looking less likely,” acknowledged Marysville School District Superintendent Larry Nyland.

In Lynnwood, Mayor Mike McKinnon slightly widened his lead for second place over City Councilman Jim Smith.

McKinnon led Smith by 16 votes, 1,182 to 1,164, on Thursday after leading by 11 after Wednesday’s count.

Councilman Don Gough widened his lead over McKinnon to 80 votes, with a total of 1,262.

The top two vote-getters will advance to the general election. The final count is scheduled for Thursday.

In Marysville, Nyland said he doesn’t yet know what he will recommend to the school board if the bonds fail. The district will continue seeking a bond measure, perhaps as early as February, but it could come up with a different proposal.

It also needs to begin planning for what to do if a bond proposal doesn’t pass soon, Nyland said. That could include double-shifting students or having some students in school while others are on vacation.

“It’s getting to an emergency stage,” Nyland said. “We are going to have to spend time and effort to figure out what our emergency plan is to keep up with the growth.”

The Sept. 20 bond measure is identical to a measure that failed in May. The district hasn’t passed a bond measure in 15 years.

After Thursday’s count of 821 more Marysville ballots, the bond measure has a 58.32 percent yes vote – about the same as Wednesday. In May, it received a 58.82 percent yes vote. Bonds require a 60 percent supermajority.

“We are awfully darn close, but we are not quite there,” Nyland said.

The $171 million bond proposal would finance construction of a second high school for 1,600 students, renovate Marysville-Pilchuck High School, add a new elementary school and replace Cascade and Liberty elementary schools.

Reporter Bill Sheets contributed to this report.

Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.