A $140.4 million, four-year levy for Highline public schools will be on the March 13 special election ballot.

On Nov. 8, Highline board members approved placing the measure before voters. The levy would replace a four-year levy that expires in September and would fund about 20 percent of the district's budget.

Superintendent John Welch has said up to 100 teachers could be laid off if the levy fails.

Much of the levy would pay the salaries of teachers and classified staff not funded by the state.

Additional funds would go for training, extracurricular activities including sports, and compensation for extra days and duties worked by teachers.

Other levy funds will be used for special education, instructional materials and transportation.

Staffers estimate the levy tax rate would be $2.56 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2008, rising to $2.72 in 2011.

According to interim budget director Donn Fountain, the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $512 per year for the levy, increasing to $544 in 2011.

Earlier, board members discussed whether to place the measure on the ballot on Feb. 7 or March 13.

The earlier date would allow for a second election, if needed, before May 15-the deadline for sending out teacher layoff notices.

But board members heeded warnings from Denny Eliason, chairman of Highline Citizens for Schools, that starting up a successful campaign during the winter holiday season would be "nearly impossible."

Board members also approved the emergency replacement of the Camp Waskowitz water tower.

Waskowitz is the district's outdoor education facility in North Bend. For generations, Highline sixth-graders have stayed at the camp for a week to learn about the environment.

About 50 gallons of water per minute is leaking out of the 300,000-gallon redwood reservoir, according to district officials. Significant rotting at the tower base causes the large leak.

The reservoir supplies water for hydrants, sprinklers and other uses.

The board's summary of the emergency resolution cautioned, "Reservoir failure releasing 300,000 gallons of water could result in the closure and erosion of Interstate 90, severe erosion downward into camp damaging buildings, restricting camp access, great risk potential of life safety, as well as closing the camp outdoor education program."

Board members also heard a report from researcher Barbara Billinghurst on her state PTA study of three school districts with diverse demographics and limited state funding. The districts studied were Highline, Kent and Yakima.

Highline was one of 17 districts identified in an earlier PTA study as having very high rates of students with extraordinary needs and low levels of funding. Below-average Washington Assessment of Student Learning scores suggested the districts were struggling academically, the study's summary concluded.

According to the study, Highline spends $652 less for each student than the state average. Highline's $6,254 per student average is 42nd in the state, Billinghurst noted.

Gov. Christine Gregoire is laying the groundwork for more education funding, according to Billinghurst.

She added, "We will have to move into new taxes."

Communications director Catherine Carbone Rogers also presented a report on cultural competency and customer service.

Rogers said the district is holding workshops and training to teach awareness of cultural differences.

She noted that while the teaching and administrative staff is overwhelmingly white, a majority of students are minorities.

By 2011, Hispanics are projected to make up about 32 percent of the student enrollment and Asians 20 percent, she added. White students will be about 30 percent.

Rogers also reported that all district office workers have undergone customer service training.

"I have been harping on this for seven years," board president Phyllis Byers declared. "The most disheartening emails and phone calls I get are about poor customer service."