MARYSVILLE – With so many building needs in the Marysville School District, an advisory panel faces the tricky task of determining how much is too much to ask from voters in a bond measure.

The panel is hearing from plenty of residents and school staff who have participated in a telephone call-in survey or were among the 150 people at a town hall meeting last week. The committee of volunteers and staff will make a recommendation to the school board by March 14. The board is expected to place a bond proposal on the May 17 ballot.

In both surveys, building a new high school was the top priority. On a scale of 1 through 6 at the community forum on Thursday, 80 percent gave a new high school a 1 – the highest rating – meaning they “strongly agree” that the high school should be the top priority.

Seventy-three percent of the 565 people completing the telephone survey as of Thursday gave it the highest rating.

In both cases, more than 90 percent agreed either strongly or moderately that a new high school should be the top priority.

The high school, which would be built on Getchell Hill, could cost about $79 million, with $67 million coming from local tax money and $12 million from the state’s contribution, according to preliminary estimates.

Marysville-Pilchuck High School is one of the largest in the state with about 2,500 students. It could nudge close to 3,000 students over the next five years, according to district forecasts.

The district and its facilities committee are exploring several options, with bond measures ranging from $86.5 million to $160 million. The smaller package would include the new high school, a $3 million renovation of the athletic stadium to serve both high schools, $5 million in repairs to existing buildings, $6.5 million to buy land for future buildings and $5 million for technology upgrades.

Under the most sweeping proposal, the district would add to that a $20 million to $29 million renovation of Marysville-Pilchuck, a new elementary school for $16.7 million and the replacements of Liberty and Cascade elementary schools, each for $16.7 million.

The district has been told it would be cheaper to replace the aging elementary schools than to renovate them, Superintendent Larry Nyland said.

Mike LaRosa, president of the Marysville PTA, attended the Thursday night forum and said he was glad the district was encouraging residents to give feedback before deciding on a bond proposal. He points to enrollment forecasts and construction already under way.

“We have to be ready. People are coming. Whether we build or not, they are coming,” he said.

Marysville has not passed a school construction bond since 1990, and now uses 117 portables throughout the district.

The advisory committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at district headquarters, 4220 80th Ave. NE., to try to come up with recommendations.

School board member Michael Kundu he said he feels better knowing how much response the district has already received.

“It shows the community has something to say,” he said.

If the bond measure is in the $100 million range, it would cost taxpayers about 62 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, or about $124 a year for a $200,000 home.

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