Jacob Greenslade is getting ready to graduate from Kamiakin High School in Kennewick.
But that didn't stop him from knocking on doors in support of a $68 million bond project that would add space and upgrade school buildings for younger students in the district.
"The more publicity we get out about the bond ... the greater the effect it's going to have," said Greenslade, 18, a senior, as he some classmates prepared to spread their message in the Hansen Park neighborhood Wednesday.
The bond is up for election next week. Voters already should have their ballots in the mail. Ballots must be postmarked by May 19 to count.
The bond would pay for building a new elementary school in Badger Canyon to help with growing student enrollment. It also would cover remodeling Canyon View, Southgate, Sunset View and Cascade elementary schools, which are more than 25 years old and have infrastructure problems.
Some other capital projects in the district -- including roof and heating, ventilation and air conditioning work -- also would be completed. And a fifth school, Lincoln Elementary, would be remodeled so long as state matching money comes through.
The bond would raise property taxes an estimated 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $5 a month for owners of a $200,000 home.
"Kennewick is growing. It has been growing and it's projected to grow. A new school is needed and upgrades are needed for existing schools," said Kevin Veleke, chairman of the citizens committee working to pass the bond.
The committee has stepped up its efforts since the bond fell short of passing by only a few hundred votes in March. Bonds require 60 percent voter approval to pass, and the Kennewick measure got 59.28 percent.
Committee members heard from many who supported the measure but forgot to return their ballots, Veleke said.
The committee has sent out mailers, posted signs, called voters and gone door-to-door to remind people to drop them in the mail.
Greenslade and his friends, Polly Wiltz, 18, a Kamiakin senior, and Elizabeth Moberg, 17, a junior, hit up several homes in Hansen Park on Wednesday afternoon.
They talked about why they support the bond with residents who opened the door. They left fliers for people who weren't home.
Other students were doing the same thing in neighborhoods throughout Kennewick.
Wiltz said she wants the bond to pass because the district needs more classroom space and several school buildings need upgrades.
"You want kids to want to go to school," she said, and having updated facilities helps with that.
"Every extra (vote) counts," she said.
For more details on the bond, go to www.ksd.org.
w Sara Schilling: 582-1402; sschilling@
tricityherald.com
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