The Bellevue School District has approved the sale of more than 10 acres of undeveloped land in the Westwood Highlands neighborhood to Tri Pointe Homes in a $30 million deal aimed at easing its budget crisis.
The wooded property, deemed unfit for building a school, will be developed into single-family homes, though the plan has met some community resistance. District leaders say the sale is essential to stabilizing finances. Superintendent Dr. Heather Sanchez noted that the transaction would “accelerate the district’s path to financial recovery,” adding that other properties remain available should the district need to build another elementary school in the future.
The money from the sale will go into the district’s general fund reserve under a state law that allows school districts in binding financial conditions to use proceeds from property sales for operating needs. Bellevue schools have been under such conditions since July, citing declining enrollment, reduced state funding, and rising operating costs.
Board Member Jane Aras explained that selling the property is not only about meeting ongoing expenses but also about replenishing depleted reserves, which is necessary before the district can exit its binding status.
Not everyone is convinced. One resident, concerned about traffic congestion, pointed out that 139th Ave. SE is the sole access road to the site. Board Member Monica Webster responded that while the full impact on the neighborhood is yet to be determined, the district will remain attentive to community feedback and make adjustments as needed for nearby schools.
The district aims to close the sale before spring 2027. Starting in 2026, a new state law (HB 2049) will allow Bellevue to increase its local levy by $500 per student, expected to bring in $5 million in the first year and $10 million annually thereafter.
According to district officials, combining levy increases with the land sale could allow Bellevue to restore its budget in just two to three years, far ahead of the previously estimated seven-to-10-year recovery timeline. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for August 21.
