The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - During a special meeting Wednesday, the Dayton School Board approved placing a $19.955 million bond before voters in April. The vote was 4-0, with one board member absent.

Voting on the measure will conclude on April 22. A yes vote above 60% will be required to approve the measure.

Bond funds would go toward a major renovation of school district facilities. The total estimated project is cost $24.25 million. The remain­ing funds (approximately $4.3 million) would be pro­vided by Washington State through matching grants.

The project, which would begin in 2015 if the current bond measure is approved, will include a complete renovation of the high school building, system upgrades and gym modifications in the elementary school and con­struction of a new commons/ community/administration building that would con­nect the two existing school buildings.

Upon voter approval, the school district would issue a 20-year bond. The School District estimates that the re­sulting property tax increase for property owners in the district would be $2.53 per thousand dollar valuation for 20 years. So the owner of a $100,000 home would see a tax increase of $253 per year.

The estimated rate is based on a conservative rate of growth in total assessed values in the district of about one percent. If total valuation grows at a faster rate, the levy rate will drop over time.

During Wednesday's meeting, board members heard a presentation from Greg McCracken, of BLRB Architects, who outlined the estimated project develop­ment and construction costs. They also heard a report from the district's bond counsel, Jim McNeil of the Foster Pepper law firm, re­Hoops viewing the bond resolution, ballot title and description of the measure.

The board heard com­ments from four private citi­zens who expressed concern that the overall cost of the project is higher than the community can bear. Some felt that some community members may not be able to afford the additional taxes. Some also felt that voters in the district may be less likely to support an M&O levy in two years.

Superintendent Doug Johnson said it is important for the schools to commu­nicate to the community the serious issues facing the school facilities.

In an interview with The Times, Johnson said, "We're getting to the point where deficiencies in our facilities will begin impacting the quality of education we can provide."

In a statement released after the meeting, Johnson outlined some of those is­sues.

The buildings and their systems were last upgraded in 1984.

The electrical systems installed then were not de­signed to handle the multi­tude of electronic devices now used by teachers and students. These include computers, LED projectors, document cameras, and interactive white boards. "Handheld devices and computer work stations are becoming the paper and pencil of the classroom," the statement said.

The heating system for the entire district utilizes hot water and steam cre­ated by two boilers located in the elementary building. While the boilers have been recently replaced, much of the piping and heat registers are showing age and have re­quired considerable repairs or replacement. Many of the repairs are difficult and expensive caused by a short­age of outdated parts or the fact parts must be fabricated. Earlier this year a steam pipe delivering heat for the high school and gymnasium failed and required an im­mediate repair that cost the district about $70,000.

"The project would bring about the change needed in mechanical systems through a complete renovation in the high school and a major overhaul in the K-8 build­ing," the statement said. "Without this renovation and construction the District will be unable to make needed improvements and is likely to face untimely and expen­sive repairs to the existing inefficient and aging system. Such repairs will place a sig­nificant burden on students and taxpayers alike."

A group called Dayton Citizens for Education is working to help communi­cate the importance of the upcoming bond levy. The group has established a web­site called http://www.daytonciti­zensforeducation.com.

Johnson said people in­terested in learning more about the issues the schools face can contact the school district office at (509) 382- 2543.

Dayton School Modernization - Estimated Costs

Project Development Costs - $5,547,714