LAKE STEVENS — People can weigh in on two options for building, expanding and remodeling local schools.
One of those options could show up as a bond measure on the February 2016 ballot.
The Lake Stevens School District has been looking for ways to reduce crowding in schools, especially at elementaries. Campuses are over capacity and, at some, there’s no more space to add portable classrooms.
A work group of parents, teachers, students and property owners last year started reviewing enrollment numbers and space needs. They came up with five possible projects, including basic repairs, building remodels, new schools or some combination of those ideas.
They’ve now narrowed that list down to two choices.
The district is seeking comments, questions, concerns and ideas in an online survey that launched last week and continues until Oct. 11.
The first phase of the survey, which ends Sunday night, is for comments. The second phase lets people add virtual stars to ideas they support, similar to a Facebook “like” or Twitter “favorite.”
Both of the work groups’ options call for a new elementary school, a new early learning center, district-wide safety and security upgrades, and the creation of a special fund for future repairs.
The proposals differ on Lake Stevens High School. One plan would upgrade existing buildings on the high school campus, specifically for music, special education and athletics.
The other would put up new buildings on the high school campus but stops short of building a new school.
“Since we’re such a residential tax base, we want to be mindful of what our community can afford,” district spokeswoman Jayme Taylor said. “We felt a new high school would be too much of an ask.”
A bond would be paid off over 20 years. The initial estimate for the plan that updates existing high school buildings is $101 million, or roughly $276 a year in taxes on a $250,000 home. The option with new buildings would cost an estimated $116 million, or $312 a year for a $250,000 home.
Those costs could change based on the state funding and architectural designs, Taylor said.
The last time the School District asked for a construction bond was in 2005, she said. Voters that year passed a $65.5 million bond to build Cavelero Mid High School, update Lake Stevens High School and add a stadium, and modernize Hillcrest, Mount Pilchuck and Sunnycrest elementaries.
That 20-year bond is still on the books, as are two School District levies from 2014: $52.5 million for maintenance and operations and $6 million for technology, according to the district.
The school board plans to review survey results by the Oct. 28 meeting and vote on whether to move forward with a bond measure.
If a bond makes it through the school board and voters, construction would start right away on the district’s new elementary school and early learning center, Taylor said.
The schools would be built on 38 acres the district owns between Soper Hill Road and Lake Drive, east of Highway 9.
“We needed it yesterday, so we’re definitely moving forward as soon as we can,” Taylor said.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
To participate in the school district’s online survey, go to lkstevens.thoughtexchange.com/invitation. The survey is open to anyone in Lake Stevens.
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