CV to seek bond vote again
Central Valley School District, which in the 1990s asked five times before getting voters to say yes to a construction bond, plans to try again after failing to win a supermajority in March.
But inflation and increased construction costs have added to the amount needed. The bond was $55.2 million in March; it will be $77.75 million when it appears on the ballot in November.
This is the second-largest bond proposal in Central Valley district’s history. In 1998, on the fifth attempt, a $78 million bond passed, paying for construction of the new University and Central Valley high schools.
“It is a huge amount. Unfortunately it’s not going to get smaller. The longer we wait the more expensive it’s going to be,” said Lynn Trantow, school board president.
The staff-recommended bond proposal was approved at Monday night’s board meeting.
Last March, the proposed bond received 57 percent voter approval, 3 percent short of the required supermajority to pass.
The amount of the bond jumped more than $22 million because of inflation and increases in construction costs, said Mike Pearson, district superintendent.
“People can comprehend it. They see the cost of homes in the area going up,” said Pearson.
An architect told Pearson that they’re currently getting 24-hour bids on electrical and plumbing work.
“If he bids it on Tuesday, it’s good until Wednesday noon. The cost goes up that fast. I don’t think anybody anticipated that,” said Pearson.
Frank Etter, vice president of Garco Construction in Spokane, said some reports estimate construction costs are going up as much as 3 percent a month.
“Things have gone up significantly and can change overnight. In 15 to 30 days there can be significant increases, and if you happen to hit it at the wrong time, the increases could be substantial. There’s also the availability issue. Cement and steel are both in short supply,” said Etter.
In addition to construction costs, the district can’t control the number of additional students that continued development brings into the schools.
Bond funds would pay for a new elementary school and a middle school in the eastern part of the 80-square-mile district.
The district has seen enrollment jump 3 percent the past two years.
“The growth that we’re experiencing has been unprecedented. It has caught everyone, the city of Liberty Lake, the city of Spokane Valley, the county, a bit by surprise. It was such a slow rate for so many years.
“We’re trying to be proactive. This is the third time we’ve gone for an elementary on that side of the district,” said Trantow.
The elementary school in the new bond package would have a 550-student capacity with room for expansion and would open in fall 2008.
The middle school would also have a 550-student capacity and would open in fall 2009.
The original bond would have provided enough room for 650 students at each of these schools, with the elementary school opening in 2007.
Ponderosa and Opportunity elementary schools would be remodeled with bond funds, and two additional classrooms would be added at Opportunity. Both schools would be completed by fall 2009.
The bond proposed in March also included the remodeling of Greenacres Elementary, which will now have to wait until state modernization reimbursement funds are available which could be in 2010 or later.
If there’s any remaining state aid from the Greenacres remodel, cooling systems, technology upgrades and parking improvements would be made at Broadway, Chester, Progress, Summit, University and Sunrise elementary schools.
Pearson said that they have listened to the voters and moved kids to empty classrooms throughout the district. The elementary schools are full. There’s still some room at Horizon and North Pines middle schools, but those are going to fill up.
“How do we make do with the facilities that we have? We can do busing. We can do portables. We can do double shifting. There’s a whole range of things that we’ll have to look at as a district.
“Our charge, and it’s a great charge, is to educate the children. It’s a challenge, but all you have to do is see the faces of the kids. We’ll make it work,” said Pearson.