The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - In April, a bond levy measure that would have financed a major overhaul of school facilities in Dayton was soundly defeated by voters. More than 72% voted no.

After considering the results, and receiving feedback from members of the community, school administrators have begun work to prepare a scaledback plan to put before voters in 2015.

"We heard the message loud and clear," said Superintendent Doug Johnson. "But that doesn't mean the issues with facilities have gone away. They haven't."

The proposed project would have included a complete renovation of the high school building, construction of a new cafeteria/commons building connecting the high school and elementary buildings, converting the existing kitchen/multipurpose room area into a new gymnasium and upgrading electrical, plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems in the elementary/middle school building. It also included replacing the roof on the bus garage and shop building.

In reviewing the community response to the levy measure that was defeated, Johnson said the district came away with the following conclusions: - The cost of the proposed project was too high - Employees were not perceived as supporting the proposal - Additional square footage and larger classrooms are not needed when enrollment is declining - There is a perception that the schools are not doing a good job overall

Johnson said the district asked BLRB Architects, the firm that it contracted with last year to develop renovation plans, to come back with some scaledback plans for a revised proposal to be put before voters next year. The firm prepared a series of proposals for potential bond measures for next year. The proposals vary in scope and cost.

The highest cost project would require a bond levy approval of $14,635,326 with a projected tax rate of $1.84 per thousand dollar property valuation. This compares to the $19.9 billion (at $2.53 per thousand) levy that was turned down in April.

None of the proposals being put forward for next year would include construction of a new commons building that was proposed last time. They will all include leaving the kitchen and multipurpose room in the K-8 building in their current configuration. Also, the administration building would be left as-is - the previous proposal would have included its removal.

Johnson said that the district would like to hear from community members this fall regarding which proposal they would be most likely to support, if any. The proposals will be shown on the Friends of the Dayton Schools website and a one-question survey will be included, which will ask website viewers to select their preferred choice.

The box at right gives a breakdown of the projects and the proposed bond levy measures.

Readers can provide feedback on the proposed projects by going to www.daytoncitizensforeducation.org.

Community members are being asked to consider six proposals for school renovation, and choose which they would be most likely to support; or they could choose none.

The proposals include combinations of the following projects:

Project A - Complete renovation of the Dayton High School building. This is the same project that was included in the bond levy that failed in April. It would include gutting the interior of the building and creating a completely new interior with modern classrooms and an elevator. The auditorium would be eliminated, leaving more space for classrooms.

Project B - Comprehensive systems upgrade in the K-8 building. All electrical, plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems in the elementary/middle school building would be upgraded. The kitchen and multi-purpose room would remain in their current configuration.

Project C - Electrical systems upgrade in the K-8 building. Electrical and communications systems would be upgraded in the elementary/middle school, but plumbing would not be upgraded, and new HVAC would not be installed. (The K-8 building does not currently have air conditioning.)

Project D - Minimal systems interface for the K-8 building. No work would be done to the elementary/middle school building other than that necessary to connect the building to new systems being installed for the high school renovation.

Project E - Construction of new outdoor covered play areas next to the elementary school and in the tennis court area near the high school. Superintendent Johnson says these facilities are needed to allow kids a safe place to congregate before and after school. The proposed renovation that was turned down in April would have provided indoor space to meet this need. Johnson said the cost of this project will be approximately $650,000.

Project F - Replacement of the shop/bus garage roof. Johnson says this work is badly needed. It was included in the April 2014 proposal.

The following proposals are being considered:

Proposal 1 - Complete projects A, B, E and F Total bond amount - $14,635,326 Projected levy rate with 20-year bond payoff - $1.84/$1,000 property valuation.

Proposal 2 - Complete projects A, C, E and F Total bond amount - $12,009,230 Projected levy rate with 20-year bond payoff - $1.52/$1,000 property valuation

Proposal 3 - Complete projects A, D, E and F Total bond amount - $9,161,577 Projected levy rate with 20-year bond payoff - $1.14/$1,000 property valuation

Proposal 4 - Delay project B until 2021 Total bond amount - $7,474,269 Projected levy rate with 20-year bond payoff - unknown

Proposal 5 - Combine Proposals 3 and 4

Proposal 6 - Combine Proposals 2 and 4