Bond requires control, community involvement

Some thoughts, now that the Cheney School District’s $52 million capital facilities bond has passed.

As of Feb. 21, the bond had received 61.08 percent approval, needing just 60 percent to pass. According to the Spokane County Elections website, just 25 ballots remained to be counted, with the next count coming Feb. 23.

It would take roughly 71 no votes to turn that 60 percent approval into 59.99 percent, thus failing the bond. Not likely to happen.

So, what has happened? The good news for students, parents and district staff — along with other supporters of the measure — is new classrooms will be added to three elementary schools and the high school to hopefully ease overcrowding issues associated with enrollment growth over the next 10 years.

Accompanying those additions are enhanced front entrance security at four elementary schools as well as the high school. Gym and physical education spaces will be added at several locations, the high school will finally get an auditorium for its performing arts programs and Three Springs alternative high school will get a new location.

There will also be work on traffic patterns that hopefully will ease congestion and potentially dangerous conditions on North Sixth Street near the high school and Betz Elementary.

On the other side of the coin, taxpayers in the district are on the hook — or soon will be — for repaying $52 million in bonds to be sold to finance this construction. Coupled with the $79 million in bonds voters approved in 2010 for two middle schools, it’s a $131 million debt load being carried by the public.

To be fair, those bonds from 2010 are being paid down, and the district’s financial team has done admirable work finding savings for taxpayers.

But that’s only the tip of the iceberg on issues surrounding this bond. For starters, only 34.98 percent of eligible voters in the district cast ballots.

By contrast, 47.73 percent turned out for the 2010 Cheney bond. It’s hard to believe seven years later, 65.02 percent of school district voters didn’t think spending $52 million was important enough to fill in one of two ovals on a ballot, put a stamp on an envelope and drop it in the mail.

If you were among the 65 percent and don’t like the results, you’ve got nothing to complain about.

To the district, congratulations for the hard work you put in to creating this proposal and getting it passed. But a word of advice — be smart with the money.

We know you will manage the money well, looking for the best deals on financing, etc. But Taj Mahal facilities aren’t needed when good, solid structures will serve the same purpose.

Hopefully the construction market is still robust enough to produce competitive bids for the work. But if bids come in lower than expected, don’t jump at the chance to use those savings to purchase expensive alternates when basic materials will do just fine.

Finally, everybody needs to do a better job in dealing with the future, arguably somewhat uncertain given moves at the state level to change funding for education. But locally, we need to somehow get a handle on planning for growth, no matter how difficult.

West Plains residents need to be more involved in the discussions on future school locations, and that will take an effort from citizens as much as the district. Decisions need to be made that make the best sense with regards to economics, transportation, population, where growth is anticipated and the availability of land and existing infrastructure — not just because residents want a school nearby.

Indeed, a discussion needs to even take place about the size of the Cheney School District and whether it is efficiently and effectively meeting the needs of the area. Difficult words to write, and consider.

There is a lot on our plates in educating our children. The $52 million is just the start.