Marysville weighs school bond options

Published 10:16 pm Sunday, February 28, 2010

MARYSVILLE — A trimmed down Marysville school bond proposal could land on the April 27 special election ballot.

The Marysville School District has until March 12 to resubmit a bond measure to rebuild aging schools.

A $78 million bond proposal failed Feb. 9. It received a 53 percent yes vote, but needed 60 percent. A levy to help pay daily operational costs passed on the same ballot.

No decision has been made on whether to submit a measure on the April ballot, Superintendent Larry Nyland said.

Some bond backers favor a second attempt but with significant reductions from the first proposal, Nyland said. February’s measure would have replaced three aging schools, upgraded technology and made improvements on other campuses, such as Marysville-Pilchuck High School’s swimming pool.

In a memo to district staff, Nyland outlined seven ballot options, including not resubmitting the bond proposal until 2011.

Don Whitfield, co-chairman of the levy and bond committee, said he thinks the district should try a smaller package.

“We thought we had a good message and we thought it was positively received by the community,” Whitfield said.

A smaller bond could appeal to taxpayers concerned about the economy, he said. If voters would approve a smaller measure, the district could take advantage of current low interest rates and stiff competition among contractors, resulting in a savings of millions of dollars.

Even if the measure passes, taxpayers would see a drop in their property tax bill because a school construction bond measure passed in 1990 will be paid off this year, Nyland said.

Estimated cost to the taxpayer won’t be known until the school board picks a bond package.

The February bond measure would have replaced Liberty Elementary, built in 1951, and Cascade Elementary, built in 1957, with new two-story buildings. Marysville Middle School, built in 1960, also would have been replaced. The projects would have created new classrooms for about 2,000 of the district’s 11,000 students.

The district is exploring different combinations, such as dropping the middle school or one or both of the elementary schools.

District leaders are discussing the possibilities with advisory groups. It would cost about $40,000 to place the bond on the ballot.

“It’s going to be interesting to see what the school board decides to do,” Whitfield said.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.