Lake Chelan school bond wins majority but fails under state supermajority rule

CHELAN — More than half of local voters said yes to rebuilding the city’s aging schools, but Washington law said no.

The Lake Chelan School District’s $73 million bond measure received 1,090 votes in favor and 1,034 against — 51.32% support, a narrow but clear majority. Under RCW 28A.530.020, however, Washington requires a 60% supermajority for school construction bonds. The result leaves the district with a win on the scoreboard but a loss in practice.

The bond was aimed at replacing the 77-year-old Morgen Owings Elementary School, built in 1948 and expanded several times since. During a tour of the facility earlier this year, administrators described how space limitations, poor insulation, and aging wiring have strained the building beyond its intended lifespan. Some classrooms, they noted, run hot while others stay cold; narrow corridors, limited accessibility, and crowded common areas highlight the mismatch between mid-century design and modern educational needs.

The proposal also included upgrades at the middle and high school campus — expanding shop and trades programs and improving safety systems — along with long-planned improvements to the Mountain Goat Field complex, including an all-weather track, soccer field, parking expansion, and new locker rooms.

Voter turnout countywide was roughly 27%. With only 56 votes separating yes from no, the measure’s narrow defeat underscores how even modest participation can determine the future of major public investments.

Because the bond did not reach the 60% threshold, the district cannot issue the proposed construction bonds, though officials say the needs identified in this proposal will continue to guide future planning.

The results, which will be finalized later this month, mark a paradox that Washington communities know well: A simple majority can favor a project, yet the project still fails. For the Lake Chelan School District, the message from voters was clear — more than half are ready to invest in new classrooms. Whether a larger consensus can be built before the next election will decide when, and how soon, those classrooms are built.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media