Cheney High School needs expanding, renovations

Tuesday Feb. 10, voters in the Cheney School District will be asked to approve a 21-year construction bond for renovations to the overcrowded Cheney High School. There is no doubt the renovations, a mixture of expansion and modifications, are not only much needed but long overdue in modernizing, alleviating overcrowding and enhancing safety at the 50-year-old building.

The Cheney Free Press supports making these renovations.

In order to pass the $44.88 million bond, 60 percent of 40 percent of voters who voted in the last general election must vote yes. There are many good reasons for voters to do so, one of which you don’t even need to get out of your car to see.

The school, originally built to educate 900 students, now has over 1,200 and more are expected in the next six years. To deal with the growth, the district installed eight portables in the south parking lot, two housing the “alternative school” Three Springs High School. This is neither safe nor comfortable for students.

Another reason can be sampled by walking into the building and attempting to navigate the hallways during times when classes are let out. It’s nearly impossible, and difficult to imagine how students do it five days a week.

With the growth, gym space is at a premium, with teams forced to use gyms at other district schools for practice as well as practicing at odd hours. The entrance to the school has officials concerned not only for students’ safety inside the building but outside as well.

The bond would address these by building 12 new classrooms — creating the ability to add a second floor to accommodate future growth — along with new gym and exercise space, a permanent Three Springs High School on campus and rearrange the entryway by moving the administrative offices closer to the entrance. The bond would also pay for expanding and changing the cafeteria area into a commons space, creating more seating for meals, and build a new, performing arts complex with a 700-seat auditorium.

There have been some differing viewpoints expressed about some of the proposed renovations, such as the auditorium. It’s been noted the high school has an existing performance theatre, and that a bond measure passed by voters in the 1990s called for using a new gym for musical performances.

This is true, which is why we view the arts complex more as a “want” than a “need.” But the school district has done a great job of cultivating the arts, with the end result being award winning musical programs and exceptional stage performances.

The district essentially leveled and moved an entire hill to accommodate more athletic facilities. Building a proper performing arts complex, one that could be used by the entire community, is a good investment with which to say “thank you” to students, staff and parents who have put in a lot of hard work, often with minimal budgets, to achieve success.

There are several factors to consider about the proposed bond. The estimated price of $13.9 million for the performing arts complex translates to $19,857.14 per seat; $24,800 per seat if a smaller, 500-seat auditorium is built.

Also, changes in parking will create a new entrance/exit for students and staff onto North Eighth Street west of the school. This could lead to more traffic on residential streets such as through the Golden Hills subdivision.

The school district is also still paying bonds that include those passed in 2010 to build two new middle schools. Those bonds aren’t scheduled to be retired until 2028, with payment of the bonds on the proposed high school construction projected to run through 2038.

The district is also looking at the potential for another elementary school in several years. And, the current high school facilities will need modernization, with another estimated $42.9 million bond to do so being considered around 2025.

These are some of the facts voters must consider by Feb. 10. We hope they will sit down, think through all the facts and issues, and make a good informed decision rather than an emotional one.

The high school needs expanding and renovation. Let’s do it the right way.