School districts give bonds another shot

Six Spokane County school districts are hoping for voter support Tuesday.

Districts including Deer Park to the north and Liberty to the south are trying bond elections again after recent defeats by voters. In March, Deer Park lost its school-improvement bond by a narrow margin, while Liberty’s loss prompted it to set its sights lower; the district is now asking for a smaller technology bond to pay for new computers.

Here’s a breakdown of the ballot by each school district.

Deer Park School District

Superintendent Mick Miller’s Deer Park district straddles two counties – Spokane and Stevens – so he must deal with two groups of voters.

Spokane County voters gave more than the 60 percent needed to win, but support in Stevens County was about 50-50.

Last time around, 19 more votes could have made the difference.

“Due to the closeness of the election, that’s what swayed the board to want to run it again,” Miller said.

The $11.9 million levy would pay for a high school remodel and expansion. For homeowners, the cost translates to about $132 a year per $100,000 property evaluation.

Freeman School District

Freeman, a rural district 10 miles south of Spokane Valley, is seeking an $11.7 million construction bond to remodel the high school and elementary school buildings, the third such attempt.

Voters rejected two $8 million bonds in 2002. This time the school district is trying again with a special mail-in election.

For homeowners, the cost translates to about $195 a year per $100,000 property evaluation.

Liberty School District

This rural district in south Spokane County failed the past four consecutive times to pass a multimillion-dollar bond.

Superintendent Duane Reidenbach and the school board decided to scale back their plan to a four-year technology levy that would bring in $125,000 a year.

To help offset the previous losses, the Spangle Service Club and other volunteers helped build a covered playground for students.

The technology levy would cover the purchase of computers and other equipment. “We’re trying to keep up with other school districts,” Reidenbach said.

The cost would be $42 the first year per $100,000 property evaluation. In subsequent years, it would dip $1 a year.

Medical Lake School District

Assistant Superintendent Ralph Headlee said a $12.7 million bond would replace an old K-3 elementary school and add classrooms and a gymnasium at Medical Lake Middle School. “We really looked at remodeling (the elementary school), but the cost was prohibitive due to asbestos,” Headlee said.

Homeowners would pay $153 a year per $100,000 property evaluation through 2008, and then it would rise to $217 a year through 2030.

Nine Mile Falls School District

A $13.3 million bond would finance school improvements to Lakeside High School and two elementary schools. Sixteen classrooms would be added to Lake Spokane Elementary, and eight classrooms would be modernized. The expansion would allow the school to do away with classrooms in portable buildings.

At Lakeside High School, the bond would pay for construction of a security office in the school’s entryway. Other improvements are planned for science classrooms and an expanded gym large enough to handle assemblies and music performances.

For homeowners, the cost translates to about $176 a year per $100,000 evaluation.

Orchard Prairie School District

In this community just north of Spokane, there are 520 registered voters. The K-7 school has about 65 students.

Orchard Prairie is asking for a two-year maintenance and operations levy that would bring in $94,000 annually. Historically, the community has supported the levies, said Superintendent David Cain. “We have a very well-educated and supportive community,” Cain said. Homeowners would pay about $199 a year per $100,000 property evaluation.