Voters will see EVSD bond request on ballot in May

East Valley School District board members voted Tuesday night to give their recently failed bond measure another try on the May 20 ballot.

“Maybe this time we’ll get a better shot,” said Kay Sieck of the district’s bond committee.

The $33 million bond would have paid for complete modernization of Mountain View Middle School, East Valley Middle School and Otis Orchards Elementary School. It would also have covered technology, communications and security system upgrades at all the elementary schools. The district is eligible for $22.7 million in matching funds from the state.

The owner of a $200,000 home would pay about $274 per year for the bond, said business manager Skip Berquam. The cost of $1.37 per $1,000 in assessed home value is less than the $1.50 per $1,000 homeowners are paying now for a bond that passed in 1996. That bond will end before the new bond takes effect.

The bond received a 55.44 percent yes vote, but like all bond measures it requires 60 percent approval to pass. Only 40 percent of registered voters in the district cast ballots in the election, Sieck said.

Sieck said she heard from people after the March vote who just assumed the measure would pass and didn’t bother to vote. “Not one time did I hear anything negative about the vote,” she said.

Some also thought that the bond only needed 50 percent of the vote to pass, plus the bond was on the back of most ballots. “If they didn’t turn it over, they didn’t vote.” The district’s bond was on the ballot with a measure to approve a tax to approve a new library in Spokane Valley, which was also rejected.

“I really think there were things that hurt us,” Sieck said.

The improvements the bond would have funded still needs to be done, she said. Some of the schools haven’t had any modernizations or upgrades since they were built 30 years ago and still have all the original equipment. “We felt the work needs to be completed,” she said. “The bond committee decided we wanted to come back to you one more time.”

Board members agreed, voting with little discussion to add the measure to the May ballot.

In other business, the board discussed the possibility of changing the meeting time. The meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Superintendent Debra Howard said staff and administrators find the 5:30 time convenient.

Board member Roger Trainor pointed out that nearly all the school districts in the area start their meetings at 6:30 or 7 p.m. and that a later start time might encourage more parents to attend. “I don’t think we’re thinking about the community,” he said.

Board member Mike Harris was in favor of moving the start time to 6 p.m. “Will it affect the community positively? I think so,” he said. “I think the community would be better served if we started it later.”

Several audience members also spoke in favor of later starts. Cheryl Trainor, Roger Trainor’s wife, pointed out that students taking part in after-school sports often aren’t done in time for families to come to the meetings. “I am one of those who can’t make it here by 5:30,” she said. “I work in Idaho. A lot of people feel if they can’t be here by 5:30, they just flat don’t come.”

Parent Christie Burtonhart, who arrived at the meeting after 6 p.m., agreed. “The 5:30 start time is not conducive for most parents,” she said.

Bill Ettinger, a parent and teacher at Mountain View Middle School, said he thought making the start time later would allow more parents to be involved. “I think you would see an increase in attendance.”

The board decided to have staff check with neighboring school districts about the rational for their later start times. The issue will be discussed at a future meeting.

The board also voted to apply for a waiver for the two snow days missed during the extended winter storm in February.