By Brenda Sexton, The Courier-Herald
The Enumclaw School Board will put a $45 million bond before voters on the May 18 ballot. The bond, if it passes, will build a new J.J. Smith Elementary School at its current downtown location and fund a number of other district remodeling and facility needs.
After thorough study, the board unanimously made the decision at its regular meeting Feb. 23. Current low interest rates, a fairly favorable construction bid climate and the fact the need for the school and improvements hasn't gone away were driving forces in the board's decision.
In addition to the J.J. Smith building, the list of improvements would include: replacement of Byron Kibler Elementary School; modernization of the 200 and 300 buildings and science and music classrooms at Enumclaw High School; roofing, mechanical systems, fire alarm system, intercom/clock system and handicap access upgrades at Enumclaw Middle School; modernization of Black Diamond Elementary School; modernization of buildings 100, 300 and 400 and a music classroom at Westwood Elementary School; roofing and parking lot upgrades at Southwood Elementary School; and McDougall Street and middle school bus loop improvements.
The project total is in excess of $55 million, but the district plans to receive $10.4 million in matching funds from the state to bring the price down to $45.3 million for taxpayers.
Adding to the board's optimism is the fact that surrounding districts like Bonney Lake, Auburn, White River and Puyallup have passed major bond issues to build and repair facilities in the last two years.
The Enumclaw district has not fared as well in recent tries.
In May 2003, residents voted down a $42.9 million bond for the same items (except J.J. Smith would have been built on district-owned land near Thunder Mountain Middle School). The vote was close with 50.07 percent voting "no" and 49.93 percent saying yes; however, the district needs 60 percent or more, a supermajority, to get approval.
The campaign to educate the community is under way.
District officials said local school taxes have dropped more than 97 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value since 1999. To pay for the bonds, it would now cost an additional 93 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation beginning in 2005
Based on county assessments, district officials estimate the average home value in its area to be $188,000. The new bond, if it were to pass, would cost taxpayers an additional 93 cents per $1,000 assessed value. For the homeowner of a $188,000 home, that would be approximately $14.58 more per month.
Currently, taxpayers pay about $4.40 per $1,000 assessed valuation for the schools. That number includes $2.90 for the maintenance and operation levy and $1.50 for current bonds.
The board plans to approve the full resolution at its March regular meeting.
In other business, the board:
€ announced the hiring of Virginia Callison as vice principal at Thunder Mountain Middle School.
€ honored EHS senior Jake Gonzales for his 119-pound state wrestling championship.
€ heard the top 10 expenditures for January while paying the bills. They are: Puget Sound Energy, $55,699; city of Enumclaw, $45,367; Food Services of America, $27,555; Pacific Office Automation, $19,313; Associated Petroleum, $16,248; Northwest Regional Data Service, $13,320; White River School District, for special education at Collins High, $12,265; Smith Brothers, dairy products, $8,237; and Qwest, $7,929.
€ heard a report from TMMS teachers Julie Rust and Kamele Hill, along with students Dylan Hubber, Miles Taylor, Ben Belli, Megan Skaggs, Chloe Ramberg, DLaynie Thompson, Nea Muller and Julia Freeburg about the goings-on at the school.
€ approved school calendars for 2004-05 and 2005-06. Each calendar has three built-in snow makeup days. In 2004-05 school will start Sept. 1 and end June 21.
€ approved the following teachers to instruct out of their areas of endorsement (listed in parenthesis): social studies and psychology teacher Doug Best (English); science teacher Jodi Maras (physical science); science teacher John Hofstrand (physical education); math teacher Barb Schreiner (health); social science teacher Jean Zeman (English); science and technology teacher Brian Patrick (PE, English and history); history teacher Doug Wolff (English); science and technology teacher Michael Buck (history and English) and science teacher Bill Lund (physical science).
€ approved out-of-state travel for district counselors Matt Carlson, James Hopper, Monica Munger, Debbie Schapiro, Carol Wahl, Patty Roessler and Sandy McNames to attend the Oregon and Washington School Counselor's Association conference in Portland.
Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com
