The Monroe School District will have a bond measure on the April 28 ballot, in hopes of accomplishing a list of capital facilities projects that would extend across the district.
The 2015 bond measure provides for improvements at every school, with no estimated bond tax rate increase. This is possible because, in 2016, all of the school district's existing bond debt will be paid off. Currently, property owners pay $1.48 per $1,000 of assessed property value, an amount that is not expected to increase should the bond measure pass.
If approved by voters, a renewal of the $1.48 tax rate could generate $110.9 million, also enabling the district to qualify for approximately $21.3 million in state construction assistance. An additional $640,000 in developer-paid mitigation fees are anticipated, bringing the total up to $132 million in improvements.
The bond measure has been endorsed by the Sky Valley Food Bank, and on Jan. 27, the Monroe City Council unanimously adopted a resolution proclaiming support of the measure, which will appear on the ballot as Proposition No. 1.
It has been more than a decade since the district has passed a bond measure.
Throughout a 13-month process that began in 2013, the district worked with the community to identify and assess the district's needs. They formed a volunteer-based capital facilities steering committee and, as they worked through the process, garnered additional community input. Monroe School District Director of Communications Rosemary O'Neil said that the committee felt strongly that any proposal coming forward should maintain the current tax rate.
"They felt that our schools were overdue for improvement and that maintaining that same tax rate would be the best way to get kids the schools they need,GÇ¥ O'Neil said.
With more than 900 students district-wide being taught in portables, increasing capacity is one of the priorities of the bond. Modernizing inefficient classrooms, upgrading heating and electrical systems and heightening security measures have also been identified as key priorities by the steering committee and the district.
Park Place priorities
This week, the Monroe Monitor & Valley News is focusing on the improvements that would happen at the district's two middle schools: Park Place Middle School (1408 W. Main St.) and Hidden River Middle School (9224 Paradise Lake Rd.), which is near Maltby. [Editor's note: This is part one of a three-part series that will explore how the bond would affect Monroe's elementary, middle and high schools if passed.]
Targeted as a high-priority project, the modernization of Park Place Middle School would account for a significant portion of the bond funding. The school was built in the mid-1970s and originally served as the high school before transitioning into a junior high and finally a middle school. Currently, Park Place serves as the educational facility for approximately 800 students in grades six through eight.
One of the top priorities at Park Place would be to enhance the level of security on campus by creating an enclosed campus with a single, controlled point of entry.
"You can go into the parking lot and park, and then walk up to any classroom door you want to walk up to, and you're going to be at that door before anyone might even know that you shouldn't be there,GÇ¥ said Monroe Superintendent Ken Hoover. "And we have a lot of campuses like that.GÇ¥
Construction at Park Place, which would begin in 2016, would tie the existing buildings together cohesively, converting the campus into a two-story school with a single point of entry. Rather than going outside to get from class to class, students would walk through hallways. Additionally, the gym would be completely renovated, new classrooms would be constructed and all-weather fields would be added, along with a synthetic track and lighting.
Should the bond succeed and the project move forward, the students would remain on campus during the construction. The work would be completed in phases, with students temporarily stationed in portables while different sections of the school are under construction. Once a section was completed, the students would transition back into the newly constructed area, and another group would shift out to the portables.
"We know that anytime you have construction, that's a disruption to the learning, so we'll do everything possible to try to mitigate those impacts on kids,GÇ¥ O'Neil said.
Hoover explained that the district would also work to maximize the construction efforts during summer, spring and winter breaks, when the campus is not being used by students.
A total of $69 million in improvements could be accomplished at Park Place if the bond is successful, a number that would include-áa $16.9 million state match.
Hidden River improvements -á
Construction at Hidden River Middle School, in the Maltby area of Snohomish, would begin in 2017. The conceptual plans for Hidden River include improved safety and security and the addition of specialized classrooms that would accommodate a more comprehensive science, hi-tech and art curriculum. They would also add a synthetic track and grass athletic fields.
"Park Place has the advantage of having been the high school originally,GÇ¥ O'Neil said, "so it has many more specialized spaces like science labs and tech labs and things that Hidden River doesn't have, because it was built as a starter school to be added on over time.GÇ¥
A portion of the parking lot at Hidden River is taken up by three separate portables, which would no longer be necessary if construction occurred. The specialized classrooms would be added onto the back portion of the school, and the kitchen would be expanded to better serve the school's current capacity and accommodate future growth.
Hoover explained that the goal is for the approximately 430 Hidden River students to have access to the same level of science and technology courses that are available at Park Place. They hope to increase the level of capacity at Hidden River so it can accommodate around 600 students.
"It's important to have a good equity of experience no matter what school you go to. It might not be identical classes at each school, but they all need choices,GÇ¥ O'Neil said. "Middle school is very important, and we want to pay close attention to that.GÇ¥
The improvements at Hidden River would account for $18.2 million of the bond funding.
For more information on the bond measure, visit www.monroe.wednet.edu/PAGES/ELECTION_INFO_PAGES/election-info2015.html.
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