Central Valley to pitch education bond to voters

The Central Valley School Board agreed Monday night on a school construction bond package proposed by district staff.

Voters will be asked to approve the $75.76 million bond in November’s general election.

If approved, the bond would pay for construction of an elementary school, with a 550-student capacity, in the east part of the district, where more than 2,000 building lots are planned.

There would be a provision for expansion, and the building would be based on the design used for Liberty Lake Elementary.

The school would cost approximately $17.3 million and would open in fall 2008.

The bond would also include construction of a middle school east of Liberty Lake Elementary.

The school would also have 550-student capacity with room for expansion and would open in fall 2009 at a projected cost of $29 million.

Under the bond, both Opportunity and Ponderosa elementary schools would be fully remodeled and open in fall 2009.

The cost is estimated at $13.8 million for Opportunity and $15.6 million for Ponderosa.

Two classrooms would be added at Opportunity.

While the bond package would finance the projects, the state would reimburse the district for some of the expenses, and that state money would be funneled into other schools.

Greenacres Elementary would be fully remodeled with those state funds, so that project wouldn’t be completed until fall 2010 or later, depending on availability of state funds.

Cooling systems, technology upgrades and parking improvements at Broadway, Progress, Summit, Chester, University and Sunrise elementary schools would be funded with any remaining state aid from the Greenacres remodel or other resources as directed by the school board.

Those projects would be completed in fall 2007 or later, depending on funding.

In March, a $55.2 million bond failed to get the 60 percent supermajority needed to pass.

Building costs have escalated 12 percent the past two years. The $75.76 million figure is based on the latest figures projected to the time when bids would be made.

If approved, the bond would cost taxpayers approximately 80 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation, or 20 cents more than the March bond.