Voters weigh $1.7 billion in school construction proposals

Published 1:30 am Friday, January 24, 2020

EVERETT — Voters will decide the fate of nearly $1.7 billion worth of school construction next month.

Six school districts are seeking approval of bonds, capital levies or both in the Feb. 11 special election. Ballots were mailed to their voters Wednesday.

Edmonds is pushing the most ambitious proposal — a $600 million bond and a four-year $96 million technology and capital levy.

Bond measures are on ballots in Snohomish ($470 million), Mukilteo ($240 million) and Arlington ($71.5 million). Marysville is trying to pass a six-year $120 million capital levy. Arlington ($25 million) and Monroe ($12.3 million) also have multi-year capital levies on the ballot.

Bonds and levies are paid for with assessments on local property taxes. The rules for passing them are different. Under state law, passage of bonds requires 60% support while a simple majority is enough to enact a capital levy.

“While there is much anticipation and excitement for the March Presidential Primary, the February Special Election will have a significant local impact,” said Snohomish County Auditor Garth Fell. “By voting and returning your February Special Election ballot, your voice can be heard on these important school district issues. Remember that local elections matter.”

The Edmonds bond, if approved, would build a new middle school at the former Alderwood Middle School site and a new elementary near Lynnwood High. It would pay for replacement of one middle school and two elementary schools, and construction of an alternative learning center.

If the proposed levy is successful, the district can continue providing Chromebooks for students, expand classroom display and audio systems, and improve Internet access for students at home. There’s also a slew of safety and security upgrades to undertake.

In Snohomish, the $470 million bond would cover costs for replacing six elementary schools and renovating one, upgrading security equipment on every campus in the district and minimizing the number of portable classrooms.

Security enhancements are also included. Schools not scheduled for replacement or renovations would receive upgraded technology, such as communication systems and video surveillance.

Mukilteo’s $240 million bond would pay for additions to Challenger, Horizon and Discovery elementaries and Mariner High School, and for additions to and partial replacement of Mukilteo and Serene Lake elementaries and Explorer Middle School.

It contains money to upgrade baseball and softball fields at Kamiak and Mariner high schools, replace tennis courts at Olympic View Middle School and Kamiak, and make security upgrades at all schools.

Arlington voters face a trifecta of measures.

The proposed $71.5 million bond would pay for tearing down Post Middle School and replacing it with a new campus. As envisioned, there would be resource rooms for special education, band and music rooms as well as a stage, gymnasiums, and athletic fields. This will be the district’s fourth try in two years to pass a bond measure.

There’s also a separate four-year, $25 million capital levy to pay for security upgrades, safety improvements and adding classrooms at Arlington High School.

The district is also seeking renewal of its four-year educational programs and operations levy, proceeds of which pay for programs and staff not covered by state funding. It will be set at $1.70 per $1,000 of assessed value for each of the four years which is below the state-allowed maximum of $2.50 per $1,000.

In Marysville, if the six-year, $120 million capital levy is approved, it will pay for rebuilding of Liberty and Cascade elementaries. Both campuses date back to the 1950s.

And in Monroe, a six-year technology levy is expiring and voters are being asked to pass a new six-year, $12.3 million levy. It would cover classroom computers, software upgrades and digital training for students.

Ballots must be returned or postmarked no later than Feb. 11. They can be placed postage free in designated drop. You can return them by mail and you do not a stamp.

If you have questions, contact the county elections office at 425-388-3444.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@herald net.com. Twitter: @dospueblos.