The Orcas School board hopes a 20 percent reduction of its original bond plan will mean more community support.
At a special meeting on Monday, school board members voted to pursue a $27 million capital improvements bond, which is significantly lower than the $35 million proposal put before voters last February. It garnered 55 percent support, shy of the 60 percent super majority needed for approval.
The new bond proposal will be on the ballot in August. It does not include the following items, which were in the original design:
• Work on track and field
• Work on tennis courts
• New elementary building windows
• New fitness room in the high school
The proposal also includes a reduced scope of repairs to the Old Gym, and cutting the furniture, fixtures, and equipment budget by about half.
“We’ve made some hard decisions and some cuts, but we’ve kept the critical programs,” said board member Chris Sutton.
Teacher Kari Schuh said it “feels like the athletic program is taking a hit,” but admitted that cutting something else instead, like the culinary program or technology lab, would be equally detrimental.
During repairs made under the last bond (which was paid off in December), it was discovered that the middle school buildings, including the cafeteria, woodshop, library, music room and other classrooms, were approaching the end of their useful life. In addition, major repairs are needed in the elementary and high schools. The bond would also pay for construction of a vocational education building, to house the current programs Orcas School is offering.
The terms of the $27 million bond is 25 years. The rate is 54 cents per $1000 assessment.
“To put that in perspective, the last bond that was passed by the community in 2005 was 52 cents per $1000 assessed value,” board member Janet Brownell told the Sounder.
The board also passed a resolution that requires the school to put any extra funds toward retirement of the bond, should they save money in construction.
“Just because we’re asking for $27 million doesn’t mean we have to use every nickel,” board member Tony Ghazel said.
Dale Ely told the board he was angry about that lack of communication between the school and the community. He said more materials about the bond need to be made accessible, specifically on the school website.
“If that’s how you’re going to manage this bond, I don’t have a lot of confidence,” he said.
Brownell explained the school is hiring a project manager once the bond is approved, as well as forming a citizen’s advisory committee (no one has yet applied). In addition, the YES! For Our Schools committee is planning an information campaign to educate the public.
Rachel Adams represented the other end of the spectrum, telling the board she wanted the chance to vote for the $35 million bond again.
“The sooner you do this, the better,” she said. “I trust these people (school board members) who have spent all this time studying numbers and designs.”
New school board member
The board interviewed three potential members to replace Keith Whitaker, who left the board last month. He was later hired as the school’s new business manager.
Jim Sullivan, Bob Connell, and Marian O’Brien are vying for the open slot. They answered questions about why they were applying, how they would contribute to the board, and how their spousal conflicts would interfere with the position. Sullivan’s wife is a teacher at the school, Connell’s wife is a substitute teacher, and O’Brien is the wife of Whitaker. All three said they would recuse themselves from matters pertaining to their spouse.
The board had planned to appoint Whitaker’s successor at a special meeting on May 12, but postponed the decision to their regular board meeting on May 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the school library.
