On Feb. 6 the Seattle School District will ask voters to approve $490 million in taxpayer money for major rebuilds and renovations for seven Seattle schools, including buildings in West Seattle.

But are they the right schools?

It's important not to overlook the beautiful, state-of-the-art buildings past levies have built, such as West Seattle High School and Madison Middle School. For many of the schools that received facelifts, it's changed their communities and made the schools more attractive to parents.

However, maybe it's time to take a closer look at how and why certain schools get on major capital construction lists and others don't.

The district says schools considered priority for rebuilds and renovations are those that need the projects to improve academic achievement and have the worst building condition. Well, OK. But what does that mean? Show us why, exactly, these schools are more deserving than others.

As stakeholders in these tax-driven projects, we should be involved in this process to ensure that a list is produced based on equity and fairness, not political obligations.

The district's inventory of buildings and backlog of repairs and upgrades is daunting and complex, so it's of no real surprise that few people are willing to delve into the ins and outs of public education maintenance. And the West Seattle Herald doesn't claim to have the fairest or most uncontroversial list of deserving schools locked away in a closet somewhere.

If the district expects the public to approve this measure, it's not outrageous for the public to expect the School District to create a more transparent process.

It's appropriate to expect the district to divulge details about how it was decided that the New School at South Shore would get rebuilt before schools like Pathfinder K-8, which could go a decade more in the Genesee Hill building without basic needs, such as proper heating.

How much do we really know? Voters are slammed with public relations campaigns just a few weeks before they are asked to make a decision about major construction projects with very little tangible and contextual knowledge.

We have nothing against the $125 million Denny Middle School and Chief Sealth project that would create a shared campus and likely improve curriculum integration between the neighboring schools. It's great that a portion of the bond would go toward renovating Hiawatha Playfield.

But as citizens, it's up to us to ask questions - is this the right list at this point in time? Do these schools need help before others? Are schools affected by pending school closures in more need of care right now?

There just isn't enough information to say with certainty.