On Tuesday, October 22 the North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) School Board members will decide whether to forward Proposed Resolution 872 to the voters in February, 2014. The bond measure would fund district-wide neighborhood school improvements, technology upgrades and improved safety and security measures, five school modernizations and an additional middle school to address overcrowding and allow all of the district’s middle schools to transition to the desired grades 6-8 grade format.
“There is something for every school in this bond,” says NTPS Communications and Community Relations Director Courtney Schrieve. “All schools will get safety and security upgrades as needed.” This bond will also fund major, necessary maintenance such as replacing leaky roofs and old ventilation systems, and repairing cracked walls. “It’s not just about bricks and mortar,” says Schrieve. “It is about a quality learning environment.” Schrieve said the district’s technology is really behind and this bond will cover district-wide upgrades.
Specific improvements that would be funded by the bond include seismic and structural upgrades for earthquake safety, updated alarm and intercom systems, updated security cameras and door locks and updated plumbing and HVAC systems to maintain clean air and safe water. Playgrounds and playfields would also be upgraded to meet safety standards. Fifty deteriorating portable classrooms would be replaced with more efficient classroom structures, and overall classroom space would be increased to maintain reasonable class sizes and allow more individualized teaching and learning. The bond would also help modernize classrooms, science labs and technology to create enhanced learning environments.
The last NTPS bond, a four-year $112 million bond approved by voters in 2006, was completed in 2010 and included five major remodel projects and the construction of Chambers Prairie Elementary. “We came in on time and on budget,” said Schrieve. “We are committed to being good stewards of public funds.”
With recommendations in 2011 from a Facility Advisory Committee made up of members of the community, the district had planned to propose a new bond in 2012 but that plan was delayed for two years due to the economic downturn. The current bond proposal is for $175 million, and if it passes, the district will benefit from an additional estimated $50 million in funding from the State of Washington, bringing a total value of $225 million to the district.
According to Schrieve, the $50 million from the State of Washington works like matching funds, and will only be available if the bond measure is approved by voters. A 60% majority is required to pass the bond in February, unlike a levy which only requires 50%. For property owners within the school district, this proposed bond will cost the owner of a $200,000 property approximately $44 annually, or about $3.67 a month compared to the bare minimum costs required to keep current schools open and functioning. According to NTPS, despite being the largest and fastest growing district in the county, the projected total tax rate for NTPS would still remain one of the lowest in the region, and lower than it was 15 years ago. Current low interest rates and a competitive construction market will enable NTPS to stretch dollars further and make more needed school improvements, Schrieve said.
One of the most visible beneficiaries of the 2006 bond is the remodeled Timberline High School. “Look at our building inside and out, and you can see the benefits to the students. It is beautiful on the outside and functional on the inside,” says Timberline Principal Dave Lehnis. “I’d like to see as many kids as possible have the same benefits.”
North Thurston Citizens for Schools, led by Graeme Sackrison, Mike Reid and Ruth Weigelt, is the volunteer group promoting the bond’s approval. “This would be a shot in the arm for the community that’s not insignificant,” says Sackrison on behalf of North Thurston Citizens for Schools. “We all feel a responsibility to the community and the schools. It is important to the community that students graduate with a skillset that prepares them for a career or further education.”
The NTPS School Board will meet at Komachin Middle School, 3650 College St. SE, on Tuesday, October 22 at 7 p.m. The public is welcome and there will be time for public comment.
For more information on Proposed Resolution 872, contact North Thurston Citizens for Schools. Voter registration information is available from the Thurston County Auditor.
