A change of heart and mind

The Airway Heights City Council decided not to take an official stance on the Cheney School District's $52 million bond proposal after all.

At its Jan. 17 meeting, council voted 5-0 to oppose a resolution declaring that it would not support the bond proposal. Councilman Dave Malet abstained from voting and Councilman Steve Lawrence was absent from the meeting.

The decision to reject the resolution came a week after council's Jan. 9 study session where it agreed to forward the document. At the study session, Mayor Kevin Richey explained that he and City Manager Albert Tripp met with Cheney School District officials regarding the proposal and the resolution.

The proposal, which will be on the Feb. 14 ballot, is a 21-year bond, assessed at 59 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value that will fund various improvements throughout the district. It includes $7.8 million for Sunset Elementary School toward the addition of 10 classrooms, a new gym, as well as site work to revamp the bus loop and a secure entryway.

The resolution stated that council, while recognizing the district's effort to fund improvements at Sunset, could not support the proposal because it lacked of a long-range facilities plan, and did not address concerns about local students being bused to schools south of Interstate 90 because of space issues.

Prior to the vote, Cheney Public Schools Superintendent Rob Roettger addressed council's concern regarding the lack of a long-range plan. He said the district is developing a planning process to seek potential sites for building a new school in the future.

"I want to assure you that there is a long-range plan and the community of Airway Heights will be a part of the process," Roettger said.

Cheney School Board President Henry Browne followed Roettger, saying the bond would help address overcrowding issues at Sunset, as well as bring back some of the Airway Heights children who are bused to other schools. Browne echoed Roettger's comments regarding Airway Heights' inclusion on future planning in the district.

"We're doing everything to address the needs of our children," Browne said.

Crystal Clapin, a longtime Airway Heights resident who teaches kindergarten at Sunset, said she understood the commute students take to and from school from when she attended Cheney High School.

"I would have loved to have a high school here in Airway Heights when I was going to school and I understand the long-term need, but right now we need to look at the immediate needs," Clapin said.

Jacob Powers, Airway Heights resident and Cheney High School alum, said he is for the bond and addressing the immediate needs at Sunset, however he would also like to see the city have a voice in future discussions.

"Airway Heights should be brought to the table," he said.

Richey said he understood the comments about overcrowding in the schools, as well as noted some of history between the city and the district.

"There's some bad feelings there," Richey said. "There is a significant investment in Sunset, which is extraordinary."

Deputy Mayor Tanya Dashiell added that she felt council and the district have not had "the opportunity to speak" regarding the bond, and that the figures presented in the proposal might "scare people," especially when they compare the $7.8 million of work for Sunset to the $35.10 million of improvements slated for the high school.

"You have addressed the immediate needs (with the proposal)," Dashiell said. "What you're asking for is not unfair, but it's the perception of the numbers."

In other business:

• Council approved the second reading of an ordinance to vacate the old portion of Sprague Avenue.

• It also approved resolutions to approve the finalization of Phase 1 of the third addition of the Traditions Subdivision.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.