Sultan School District seeks $47.7M bond approval

The Sultan School District will have a bond measure on the Feb. 9 ballot, in hopes of paving the way for capital improvement projects that include new classroom space at the high school, enhanced safety features and major renovations across the district. Ballots will be sent Jan. 21.

The bond would generate $47.77 million and raise approximately $8.70 million in matching funds from the state of Washington for a total of $56.47 million in improvements. Currently, the bond tax rate for Sultan School District constituents is $0.27 per $1,000 of assessed value, which is one of the lowest rates in Snohomish County. If approved, the bond measure would add $2.13 per $1,000 of assessed value, for a total bond tax rate of $2.40 per $1,000.

The Sultan School district has not passed a bond in 17 years.

The district passed a Maintenance and Operations levy in 2014, which has been used to purchase items like teaching and training materials, musical instruments, sports equipment and technology. The bond funding would be used to improve the district's aging facilities, in order to better support educational programming.

Levy funds are used to enhance learning, while bonds apply to capital projects like new buildings and renovations. Typically, school districts will rerun bond measures once existing debt is paid off, which keeps the bond tax rate relatively consistent.

"We chose not to because of the economy,GÇ¥ said Sultan School District Superintendent Dan Chaplik. "But it didn't mean we didn't have discussions about needs.GÇ¥

While it appears a substantial increase, the tax rate in 2000 was $2.17 per $1,000 of assessed value, Chaplik said. Had the district decided to maintain that rate over the past decade, the increase now would be much less significant. But the district knew the community was struggling and chose to let the bonds drop off rather than rerunning them.

But now it's time, Chaplik said.

"We need to make an investment in these facilities,GÇ¥ he said.

Last year, a committee made up of residents, parents, school district staff and teachers was formed to assess the condition of the existing facilities and prioritize district needs. This was accomplished over the course of eight months, as the group spent nearly 40 hours touring the schools and establishing the project list.

"We started with a $95-million list that would have taken care of all the needs of our four district schools,GÇ¥ said community volunteer Ann Marie Bunch. "Through careful thought and deliberation, we were able to eliminate projects and to arrive at our current bond measure.GÇ¥

The renovations at Sultan High School would account for the bulk of the bond funding, with improvements coming in at around $32.44 million. A total of $3.25 million would be dedicated to the middle school, $3.82 million at Sultan Elementary and another $2.15 million at Gold Bar Elementary. A new educational support services center would be constructed for $6.1 million.

Both elementary schools would receive a new roof and health and facility safety improvements.

Sultan High School

Sultan High School was built in 1987 for 325 students, and is currently operating at 78 percent over capacity with 570. The bond funding would add eight classrooms to help relieve capacity issues, including four classrooms for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classes and four regular classrooms. There would also be upgrades to the school's Career and Technical Education (CTE) facilities.

CTE courses focus on career readiness, helping students be more prepared for what comes after high school. Students who complete Sultan High School's CTE welding program graduate with a certificate equivalent to what they would receive at a community college, which can help streamline the path to employment.

The bond would fund a new gym, convert the existing gym to auxiliary status and expand the band and music room near the commons.

Sultan High School's award-winning music program was a catalyst for the timing of the bond issue. Currently, there are 80 students in music department director Jill Sumpter's class, crammed into a room built for 43.

Sumpter leads the Turk Marching Band, directs musicals performed by the drama club and the music department, teaches band, choir, show choir, jazz band and honor band. She is looked up to by students and has received tremendous support from the community, winning King 5's Best of Western Washington contest in 2013 for Best Teacher.

Sumpter's program has won countless awards.

"They compete against high schools with 2,000 kids and beat them regularly,GÇ¥ Chaplik said.

The bond funding would provide for a new performing arts center; a facility that would greatly enhance Sumpter's program. Funding for both the new gym and the performing arts center would come, in part, from the state's matching funds.

"It doesn't cover it all but it offsets about half of the cost,GÇ¥ Chaplik said.

Other improvements would include a new synthetic turf field, a new track, restructured parking area and a remodeled administrative area to create a more secure, controlled point of entry into the school. An office located at the front of the school would be constructed for the school resource officer.

Sultan Middle School

Sultan Middle School was the original high school structure and is the oldest of the schools, with buildings constructed in 1951, 1968 and 1976. In 1993, the district passed a bond allowing for a new addition, which is the portion of the school that faces High Avenue. Up until very recently, vestiges of Turk-blue and gray could still be seen throughout the buildings, until Principal Nathan Plummer spearheaded an effort to transition over to Skyhawk colors. He had the school decked out with red and black highlights, as a way to enhance school spirit and foster school identity.-á

Plummer was an integral part of the bond planning committee, as he is faced by the needs of the school on a day-to-day basis.

"The bond is most important for us because it will stop the leaks we have in three or more classrooms and in the gym,GÇ¥ Plummer said. "A new roof is essential.GÇ¥

In addition to a new roof, bond funding at Sultan Middle School would allow parking area improvements, replace the gym floor and convert the existing technology offices to classroom space for STEM curriculum. Plummer and assistant principal Keith Buechler recently restructured the class schedule to increase student access to STEM classes, and now they need the space to complement their in-place programming.-á

"Moving the technology department out of our main campus lets us reclaim our old woodshop, which we will use to expand our STEM programs,GÇ¥ Plummer said.

Educational Support Services Center

A new building would be constructed in the existing parking area at Sultan Middle School that would accommodate the transportation and maintenance departments and the technology offices. Currently, the transportation and maintenance building is literally falling apart, including large gaps in the walls that expose interior spaces to outside weather. The existing transportation and maintenance building would be torn down and the new facility built directly to the west.

The district office would relocate from its current location on Fourth Street, which would free up space to reintegrate an alternative high school program.

The district's previous alternative school, Sky Valley Options, was closed down in 2014 due to the cost of having to rent a facility.

Support

The school bond is being supported by many Sky Valley parents, including Tim and Cherie Buzzell. When the Buzzells moved to Sultan from Monroe, people asked them if they would keep their kids in the Monroe School District, Cherie said. She and her husband decided to enroll them in the Sultan School District, and they have no regrets.

"Our two oldest both graduated with honors and were accepted into great schools. Our son, who graduated last June, auditioned for the UW marching band and made it,GÇ¥ Cherie said. "In fact, five Sultan High School alumni were part of the UW band this past fall.GÇ¥

Should the bond pass, the district would develop a plan to minimize student impact as much as possible, Chaplik said. School bond measures require a 60 percent majority to pass.

Tax exemptions may be available to homeowners 61 and older, disabled and those who fall within certain income requirements.

For more information about the bond, visit www.skyvalleyforschools.org or the district website at www.sultan.k12.wa.us/ssd/ssd.cfm?id=199.