Vancouver Public Schools will ask voters to approve a $458 million bond in February to build, replace and improve schools.
The district’s board of directors voted unanimously at its Tuesday meeting to put a capital facilities bond measure on the Feb. 14 ballot.
“Now is the best time to do this work,” Board President Dale Rice in a district news release. “We have a window of opportunity while interest rates are low. If we defer this investment, our financing and construction costs could double over the next 15 years.”
If approved, the bond would increase the tax rate by 9 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for three years. When combined with existing bonds, the rate is projected to be $1.52 per $1,000 of assessed value from 2018 to 2020 then drop to $1.35 per $1,000 of assessed value starting in 2021.
Superintendent Steve Webb said with bond rates low, now is the time to take the measure to the voters.
“There’s a perfect window of opportunity related to the bond market in terms of saving community members and taxpayers a significant amount of money,” Webb said.
The bond measure, if approved, will:
- Rebuild seven schools: King, Marshall, Ogden, Truman and Walnut Grove elementary schools; Fir Grove/Vista; and McLoughlin Middle School.
- Build two new elementary schools.
- Construct a larger, permanent school for Vancouver iTech Preparatory.
- Remodel and enlarge Sacajawea and Franklin elementary schools; Vancouver School of Arts and Academics; and Columbia River High School.
- Relocate the Lieser Campus to a renovated Marshall Elementary.
- Enhance safety and security measures at all sites.
- Accommodate smaller class sizes for kindergarten through third grade and eliminate about 60 portable classrooms throughout the district.
- Upgrade heating and cooling systems.
- Upgrade roofs, flooring and windows.
- Add accessible surfaces for playgrounds.
- Create spaces in schools for family engagement and community use.
- Restore Kiggins Bowl stadium.
The announcement came just hours after the Battle Ground Public Schools bond appeared slated to fail in Tuesday’s election.
As of Tuesday evening, 53.05 percent of voters supported the $80 million bond measure, falling short of the required 60 percent supermajority needed to pass school facility bonds.
Webb, however, said he was undeterred by the news out of Battle Ground.
“We’ve had great success because we’re very disciplined and frugal when we come out and make a request,” Webb said.
