Bring Back Buses for Lake Washington High School Students
The Issue
To the LWSD School Board and Administration,
We, the parents, students, staff, and Kirkland/Redmond community members of Lake Washington High School (LWHS), urge the district to provide universal, dedicated yellow school bus service to all eligible LWHS students residing outside the standard walk boundary.
The Context:
For years, LWHS remained the only comprehensive high school in the Lake Washington School District without an equitable, district-operated bus network. While peers at Eastlake, Redmond, and Juanita High Schools have long enjoyed standardized yellow bus routes, many LWHS families have had to rely on municipal public transit lines, complicated transfers, or private vehicle drop-offs.
The Proven Success:
The district proved that school-operated buses are both viable and fiscally prudent by replacing King County Metro Routes 893 and 895 with district yellow buses—a decision that not only enhanced student security but also saved the district over $197,000 annually.
Why We Must Complete the Transition:
District Equity: Every student in LWSD deserves identical institutional care. Relying on public transit lines for portions of the LWHS boundary while fully bussing other schools creates an unacceptable standard of unequal treatment.
Student Safety & Controlled Environments: Yellow buses offer single-purpose student ridership, district-vetted commercial drivers, and safe curb-to-school access without forcing minors to navigate high-traffic commuter transfers in dark morning conditions.
Reliability & Attendance: Public transit cancellations, driver shortages, and commuter gridlock cause chronic tardiness outside students' control. Synchronized yellow bus routes guarantee that students arrive ready to learn.
Environmental & Traffic Relief: Expanding yellow routes removes hundreds of single-passenger parent vehicles from the heavily congested NE 80th Street corridor and surrounding Kirkland arterials each morning and afternoon.
Our Call to Action:
We ask the LWSD Board of Directors to immediately authorize a comprehensive high school route expansion audit and budget for the necessary fleet allocation to ensure that no eligible LWHS student is forced to rely on public municipal transit to receive an education.
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The Issue
To the LWSD School Board and Administration,
We, the parents, students, staff, and Kirkland/Redmond community members of Lake Washington High School (LWHS), urge the district to provide universal, dedicated yellow school bus service to all eligible LWHS students residing outside the standard walk boundary.
The Context:
For years, LWHS remained the only comprehensive high school in the Lake Washington School District without an equitable, district-operated bus network. While peers at Eastlake, Redmond, and Juanita High Schools have long enjoyed standardized yellow bus routes, many LWHS families have had to rely on municipal public transit lines, complicated transfers, or private vehicle drop-offs.
The Proven Success:
The district proved that school-operated buses are both viable and fiscally prudent by replacing King County Metro Routes 893 and 895 with district yellow buses—a decision that not only enhanced student security but also saved the district over $197,000 annually.
Why We Must Complete the Transition:
District Equity: Every student in LWSD deserves identical institutional care. Relying on public transit lines for portions of the LWHS boundary while fully bussing other schools creates an unacceptable standard of unequal treatment.
Student Safety & Controlled Environments: Yellow buses offer single-purpose student ridership, district-vetted commercial drivers, and safe curb-to-school access without forcing minors to navigate high-traffic commuter transfers in dark morning conditions.
Reliability & Attendance: Public transit cancellations, driver shortages, and commuter gridlock cause chronic tardiness outside students' control. Synchronized yellow bus routes guarantee that students arrive ready to learn.
Environmental & Traffic Relief: Expanding yellow routes removes hundreds of single-passenger parent vehicles from the heavily congested NE 80th Street corridor and surrounding Kirkland arterials each morning and afternoon.
Our Call to Action:
We ask the LWSD Board of Directors to immediately authorize a comprehensive high school route expansion audit and budget for the necessary fleet allocation to ensure that no eligible LWHS student is forced to rely on public municipal transit to receive an education.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on September 1, 2026