Cheney schools puts high school bond, M&O levy on 2015 ballot

The biggest Cheney School District education story of 2014 is likely to be one of the biggest stories for 2015 - a $44.88 million bond to expand and renovate the district's only high school.

The 4-1 vote at the school board's Aug. 20 meeting authorized a Feb. 10, 2015 ballot measure asking voters to approve an increase of 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed property tax valuation, raising the overall tax rate to a projected $5.79 beginning in 2016, where it will remain until 2027, baring no other bond measures. It would also be the first part of a two-part plan to expand and modernize the high school, with voters asked to approve another potential $40 million in 2025.

If approved on Feb. 10, the money would build 12 new classrooms, remove eight existing portables, construct and equip specialty academic spaces - a language clarification allowing construction of a new Three Springs High School on the grounds - along with a new gym and new wrestling/aerobics room. Also included is an expanded cafeteria and student commons, a new main hallway to help alleviate congestion, added security, parking corridors and entryways and a new 700-seat events auditorium.

School board Director James Whiteley cast the lone no vote, expressing reservations about the overall tax rate climbing above $5 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, something he said the district had told voters it would not do in order to get the $79 million 2010 bond issue passed to build two new middle schools and an elementary school.

Also expressing reservations was Cheney resident Bill Johns. Johns has proposed the district reduce the size of the bond to $11.65 million, noting there are two gyms and a wrestling room at the high school along with a small theater, and that gyms at nearby Betz Elementary School and Cheney Middle School could handle additional athletic activities.

Feb. 10 promises to be busy for the district as the school board also voted to place renewal of the district's three-year educational programs and operations (a.k.a., Maintenance and Operations) levy on the same ballot. Voters will be asked to approve a measure to raise $9.3 million in 2016, $9.5 million in 2017 and $9.7 million in 2017 through levy rates of $3.17, $3.14 and $3.11 per $1,000 of assessed property tax valuation, with rates decreasing over time due to an anticipated increase in assessed property values.

The proposed levy rate is an increase over the previous levy approved in 2012. The levy pays for 23 percent of the district's budget, supporting areas such as counseling services, extracurricular activities, special education and highly capable student programs as well as some transportation costs.

As 2014 comes to a close, the school district is still seeking a buyer for it's former high school, junior high school and administration building.

The 85-year-old Fisher Building was put on the real estate market in late 2013 at an appraised value of $1,055,000, and has subsequently had two prospective buyers enter into contracts to purchase the facility for $950,000, only to have both enact opt-out clauses in the agreements after feasible use studies didn't pan out.

The district celebrated numerous successes in 2014, including the first year of operation for its new elementary school, Snowdon Elementary, near the Fairways housing development. The district also dedicated its new 63-acre satellite support site on Needham Hill, which is now home to almost all district services as well as the Homeworks program.

The former National Guard communications site was purchased in 2012 from the federal government for $29,117 after several years of negotiations, and with work by district maintenance staff, repurposed to include a new 16,000-square-foot food freezer, conference center and other amenities. The district is hoping to secure future grants to enable it to create a science center within some of the 60,000 square feet of new space.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.