Citizens for Mercer Island Public Schools (CMIPS), founded over 30 years ago, is an all-volunteer group dedicated to ensuring stable school funding through bonds and levies. Our mission is to support students and schools by sharing accurate, factual information, and advocating for the resources public education needs to thrive.
For decades, CMIPS activated only when there was a school bond or levy that would be considered by voters, and then CMIPS retired and waited for the next bond or levy. However, there's so much to share with our community about the schools (and more than a couple things being promoted that just aren't true) that CMIPS is offering factual information to our community between voting seasons. Given the duration between bonds (can be 10+ years) and levies (4-6 years), the CMIPS members change over time. That may be why we've lost track of if we're Citizens for Mercer Island Public Schools or the Committee for Mercer Island Public Schools. Either way, CMIPS is a strong, informed, connected, and enthusiastic group on the island; and YOU are welcome to join!
Here's what CMIPS shared in the Mercer Island Reporter, published April 15, 2025
From CMIPS to our Mercer Island neighbors
Mercer Island neighbors, have you wondered who is behind the cute schoolhouse signs around town?
Well, it's us! The Committee for Mercer Island Public Schools (CMIPS) was established with a mission to educate Islanders about school bonds and levies on the ballot. CMIPS is a political committee comprised of volunteer citizens - all Mercer Island neighbors advocating for funding for our local public schools. CMIPS is separate from the public schools and PTAs and is not funded by taxpayer dollars. MISD provides the facts about the Bond measure. CMIPS is an advocate for voting yes.
But who is CMIPS? We are MISD alumni, parents, and students, we are multi-generational Islander families, we are PTA leaders, we are teachers and board members, we are MISF and MIYFS Foundation board members. We are all Mercer Island taxpayers and believe in investing in the quality education Mercer Island schools provide -- and we are all proud to name ourselves as working toward this worthy cause.
Some of us have lived our entire lives on Mercer Island, while others recently call our Island home. The group is united with one cause: to support the health and well-being of our Mercer Island schools.
We have an ask, Mercer Island, Educate yourselves and vote! Get the facts at www.yesMIschools.org and the MISD website, and make sure to mail in or drop off your ballots early.
Reach out to us if you'd like to join us, add your name to the endorsement list, or simply have questions about the bond you don't want to ask in a public forum (we don't blame you).
The Committee for Mercer Island Public Schools 2025: Meghan Banta, Kristen Bullington, Bob and Julie Day, Leslie Ferrell, Jennifer Flood, Kimberly Florence, Kimberly Frank, Jordan Friedman, Courtney Hampson, Julie Hsieh, Yen-Ling Lee, Lesley Malakoti, Kathy Moffett McDonald, Laura Oberto, Samantha Rubenfield, Frank Schott, Helen Weyant, Ruka Wolf, Emily and Stephen Yu