Getting Northshore School District parents to act could mean the difference between passage and failure for three school funding issues, according to B.Z. Davis, a well-known former school-board member now co-chair of the citizen’s committee working to pass the school questions.

“We really feel a key component of this campaign is to motivate our parents,” Davis said.

Davis contends that voter apathy is “rampant,” adding only 35 percent of registered voters cast ballots when the schools last floated a money question in 2006. Davis fears some Northshore parents feel they don’t have to vote as passage of school issues has historically been the norm locally.

With all that in mind, to kick off their campaign, commenting just prior to the recent Christmas holiday, Davis said representatives of her committee already had spoken to parent groups at every school in Bothell, Kenmore and Woodinville.

Staring Jan. 4, backers planned a massive phoning campaign, hoping to ultimately reach 19,000 registered voters by Feb. 8. Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 9 for the all-mail-in election. At stake are two levy renewals and one bond issue.

By far the larger of the two renewals, what’s been dubbed by the district as an eduction operations support levy, the first levy would raise $169 million over the next four years. The levy replaces a money issue that expires this year. School officials have said the levy represents 20 percent of the Northshore district’s total funding.

The smaller renewal levy is meant to support the use of technology in the classroom and would bring in $24 million over four years. Like the larger levy issue, the technology levy would replace a current levy that expires this year. The levy supports computers for classroom use and similar items.

Finally, voters are being asked to approve a $149 million bond sale that would help with capital improvements and building maintenance projects throughout the district. Large-scale work would include completing renovations to Kenmore Junior High and Woodinville High.

If all three measures pass, according to the district, they would mean a school tax rate of $4.07 per $1,000 in property valuation each year for the four-year life of the issues. Again, according to district officials, that amount is level with the estimated tax rate for 2010 and is 27 cents less than the 2005 school tax rate.

While Davis said her committee has a lot of work in front of it, she added she is fairly confident regarding passage of all three issues. She said a local survey done in the spring showed support for both levies while the bond may need a boost. Davis noted the bond question will need a super majority of 60 percent of those casting ballots to pass.

An additional requirement demands that 40 percent of the votes come from persons who cast ballots in the November general election. The levy renewals will need a normal majority of positive votes to earn passage.

As they have been talking mostly to parents, Davis said her group members have been preaching to the choir to some extent so far. Nevertheless, she added supporters are emphasizing both levies are renewals and don’t represent additional dollars for the district.

As for the bond question, Davis said while there are a couple of big renovation projects, the majority of the dollars would go toward more routine maintenance. School officials list a number of district-wide projects including replacing carpet and roofing at five schools, modernizing or replacing heating and ventilation systems at up to eight schools and renovating 17 playfields, four tracks, four tennis courts and Pop Keeney Field.

In regard to the major projects, Davis stated some of the classrooms to be renovated are 50 years old.

Davis and her committee are emphasizing the need for passage of all three issues. Their slogan is “Three times ‘yes’ equals kids success.”

“We really need all three,” Davis said. “They support each other.”

Known as the Citizens for Northshore Schools, Davis added the group plans to spend about $30,000 on the campaign, including what was termed a major technology piece. For example, the group already has set up a Web site, www.citizensfornorthshoreschools.org.

The citizens group actually is using money raised during the 2006 levy campaigns, but is welcoming donations that essentially will go toward the campaign almost certainly to be needed four years from now. Davis did say contributions would be used to support the current issues if voters fail to approve them on the first go-around.

In case of failure in February, district leaders have said they would have no choice but to return to the polls later this year. Davis doesn’t really want to talk about failure, however.

“We’ve got a real lockstep plan (for the campaign,)” she said. “We really have laid all the groundwork.”