By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Supporters of Bethel School District's $236.7 million bond measure believe there is a strong enough case for it to pass in the election that ends next week. Whether enough voters agree and make that happen is the question. If they do, the district can go forward with plans to build or improve 15 schools for more classroom space to keep up with expected increases of student enrollment districtwide. Also at stake is a proposal to build an aquatic center that would serve high school swim teams and as a community recreation site. The tax bill for property owners in the district would be 74 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. For example, on a $200,000 home, that would add up to $148 a year ($12.23 per month). The bond would be for a 20-year period of annual property tax collections. The $236-million plus would be the local share of the cost for all the projects, which district officials estimate at $318.6 million. The district anticipates receiving $81.9 million in matching funds from the state to go with the bond revenue. Among the bond's supporters is Warren Smith, president of the Bethel School Board. He's mindful that voters who also are property taxpayers must weigh the bond's personal financial impact against the district's request. But he said the last bond run by the district passed, and "we're hopefulGÇ¥ of passing the next one by informing the public of the school district's efforts to provide a high-quality education and the long-range value of supporting those efforts. "We hope the community sees our improved (high school) graduation rate and the things that are being done in the classrooms to help all students learn and succeed,GÇ¥ Smith said. The Bethel Citizens' Committee for School Support, the group that's rallying community backing for the measure, notes that the district is expected to gain 3,000 more students in the next 10 years. To keep up, the district needs to take advantage of currently favorable financing and construction costs to replace, renovate and repair older schools, according to committee members. In addition to making room for more pupils, the improvements would bring buildings up to safety and health standards by updating roofs, fire protection and security systems, technology and earthquake safety. Voting will end Feb. 9 at 8 p.m., the last day and time that ballots can be deposited in official Pierce County elections department dropboxes. Ballots can also be mailed by Feb.8. The bond will pass if it receives a 60 percent super-majority of yes votes and, for validation as required under bond election law, a total of at least 6,046 ballots are cast. Bethel, with about 18,000 students this year, is the 16th-largest school district in Washington, and its schools are straining to meet students' needs, officials said. The higher-profile projects the bond proposes to relieve overcrowding and be better-served for the years ahead include: " An expansion of classrooms, the cafeteria and the gym at Graham-Kapowsin High School. " Modernization and partial replacement of Bethel High School. " Replacing Challenger High School, currently a collection of 14 portable buildings, with a new building on the former site of Spanaway Elementary School. " Remodeling Cedarcrest Middle School. " Building a new elementary school adjacent to Cedarcrest . " Updating Evergreen and Naches Trail elementary schools. " Building an indoor swimming pool next to Bethel High and a sports park behind Bethel Learning Center. The new facilities would be open to the community. " Replacing the grass fields at Graham-Kapowsin and Spanaway Lake High School with synthetic surfaces that would be better for year-round use. Information about the bond is available on the school district's web site.
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