Mead School District plans forum on bond

Modernization of two elementary schools and a middle school, new heating and cooling systems and increased wireless access are among improvements planned in the Mead School District, if voters approve a nearly $48 million bond issue in February.

The plan will be presented at a public forum Wednesday, giving community members one last chance for input. The projects included in the plan were identified by citizens who make up the district’s facilities planning committee, said Wayne Leonard, Mead’s executive director of business services.

Voters will be asked Feb. 8 to approve a $47.7 million replacement bond that would pay for the changes. The money would be combined with $31.8 million in state funding to complete the projects. If approved, the property tax rate would remain level at $2.20 per $1,000 of assessed value, Leonard said. The six-year bond would begin in 2012.

Only those who in live in the Mead area in north Spokane – about 46,000 people – would pay the property tax.

This is the third and last forum for the community to weigh in on the proposed projects, officials said.

“The citizens committee will take all the public’s comments into consideration and present it to the Mead School Board at the end of October,” Leonard said.

The projects

• Modernization of Midway Elementary School

• Modernization of Shiloh Hills Elementary School

• Modernization of Northwood Middle School

• Heating, ventilation, air conditioning upgrades at Colbert Elementary, Farwell Elementary, Mead Education Alternative Division high school, Mt. Spokane High School and district office

• Mechanical systems upgrades and replacements at Evergreen Elementary, Farwell, Meadow Ridge Elementary, M.E.A.D., Mt. Spokane and support services building

• Roof replacement at Brentwood Elementary, Evergreen, M.E.A.D. and bus barn

• Carpet replacement at Evergreen, Farwell and Meadow Ridge

• Public sewer connections at Colbert, Farwell, Midway and Northwood

• Handicapped accessibility improvements at all schools

• Paving at Bus Transportation Compound and bus loop at Colbert and Farwell

• Partial door and frame replacement at Meadow Ridge

• Single-point controlled main entries at all schools for improved security

• Flooring and ceiling tile replacement, main office modifications, handicapped accessibility improvements at playgrounds, site safety and playground upgrades, security enhancements and portables renovation at Brentwood, Evergreen, Colbert, Farwell and Meadow Ridge

• New playground at Five Mile Prairie School

• Fiber optic cabling to serve M.E.A.D.

• New developmental learning classroom, softball field fencing, soccer field improvements and key card locks at exterior doors at Mt. Spokane

• Technology upgrades including laptop computers on carts, replacing computers, increased bandwidth, wireless access points, servers, Web filters, switches and projectors

• Relocation of special services staff to support services building

• Acquisition of property for future school sites