Technology, mechanical bond will be put to EVSD voters

Voters in the East Valley School District will consider a $33 million bond issue in March for technology and mechanical upgrades for some of its schools, under a plan that district officials say would draw state matching funds.

The EVSD board recently approved a recommendation from its Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Capital Needs to place a $33 million bond issue on the ballot for modernization of Otis Orchards Elementary, Mountain View Middle School and East Valley Middle School. It also would cover technology, communication and security systems upgrades at each elementary school.

While the total cost would be almost $56 million, district officials said a state match would provide the additional $23 million. District leaders also estimate the cost to taxpayers as basically the same or slightly less than what they currently pay for a bond expiring in 2009.

“This includes matching state funds, which is huge,” said EVSD Interim Superintendent Debra Howard, who added that the process included a grant-funded architectural study and survey. “With the study, we were able to take a really good look at all our buildings. We completed the study and survey beforehand. We felt it was important to take a look globally to see what buildings were in the most need.

“The committee felt strongly it was not time to piecemeal but to put extensive work now into buildings, so they last the next 30 years,” she said.

A high priority is upgrading the aging school buildings’ mechanical systems – heating, cooling and plumbing, Howard added. Some schools also don’t have enhanced 911 for emergencies or even telephones in each classroom, she said.

Kay Sieck, chairwoman for the citizens’ committee, echoed that the panel’s main goal was to look at a long-range building goals and urgent needs. She also works for the Spokane Public Facilities District and was involved in the convention center’s recent construction.

“The (EVSD) committee has done long-range planning looking over the next 20 years,” Sieck said. “We’re looking at how to schedule the schools and how to utilize the state matching funds at the maximum.”

Although all of the district’s schools have facility upgrade needs, the committee considered the most urgent ones, she added. East Valley High School also needs renovation but because it is not currently eligible for state matching funds, that building will be included in the next facilities planning phase.

“Unfortunately, all East Valley schools fall into the same category, so we chose the schools that had the most problems that needed attention first,” Sieck said. “We felt it was very important that we not ask the taxpayers for any more than what we’re asking from them now.

“It’s state-mandated process to study your buildings. There are certain criteria you have to follow in order to receive these state funds.”

The process to consider district facility upgrades took two years. An architectural study and survey was funded by a grant from the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and completed in 2006-07 by architect Jim Christensen from Architects West. The study and survey is a requirement to receive state match funds.

The study found that EVSD schools’ infrastructure is outdated; that the district needs to replace and upgrade mechanical and electrical systems; security needs are apparent; technology modernization is necessary; and the recommended work would extend the life of buildings 30-plus years.

Sieck said the recommended upgrades and plan for long-term goals help to stagger building renovations.

“So we have sustainability and can get them off the same track of all needing upgrades at all the same time,” Sieck added. “(This way) projects have funding and we do them completely and not put a Band-Aid approach on any of them.”

An $11.9 million bond issue for the district was passed in 1996 to add classrooms and modifications at Mountain View and East Valley middle schools, East Farms and Skyview in addition to minor upgrades at Otis Orchards, the district’s transportation building and an extensive modernization of Trent Elementary School and upgrades at the high school. As part of the 1996 projects, the state kicked in $2.5 million in matching funds toward Trent’s renovation.