February Staff Newsletter - Kennewick School District

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
February 2013
Pasco and Richland School District
Bond Information
Both the Richland and Pasco School Districts have
bond issues on the February 12 ballot. A number of
KSD employees live in these districts and many of us
who live in KSD get questions about our neighboring
districts as well. The following information was
provided by the Pasco and Richland School Districts.
Be informed and remember to vote.
Pasco School District’s Board of
Directors voted unanimously to
place a bond initiative on the
February 12, 2013 ballot.
• The debt amount of the proposed bond is $46.8
million.
• The estimated rate for taxpayers is .34 cents per
$1,000 of assessed value, or $34 per year for a
$100,000 property.
• The District qualifies for an estimated $38.1 million
in State matching dollars, if voters approve the
election.
Major projects will be the construction of three large
elementary schools located at:
Elementary #13 at 52 and Powerline
Elementary #14 at 60 and Sandifur
Elementary #15 at Whittier site
One school will open in 2014-15 and the other two
will open in 2015-16.
Smaller projects would be prioritized based on need
and funds available and could include the relocation of
New Horizons High School, site improvements to
Stevens Middle School, land purchases for future
elementary, middle and high school sites, Twain pick
up and drop off improvements and upgrades to
mechanical systems at older schools. For more
information on the Pasco School District bond
initiative visit www.psd1.org or call 546-2686.
The Richland School Board
has approved a resolution
which will place a revised $98
million bond issue before
Richland School District voters
on February 12. The bond
issue addresses nine specific facility improvement
projects:
Replace Lewis & Clark Elementary School
Replace Marcus Whitman Elementary School
Replace Sacajawea Elementary School
Build a New Elementary School in the south/west
area
Build a New Middle School in the south/west area
Provide educational space for HomeLink at a site to
be determined
Retain Jefferson Elementary as a K-5 school; remove
the 1953 wing and provide adequate space to serve
the current K-5 enrollment
Replace the HVAC system at Chief Joseph Middle
School
Make safety improvements at Fran Rish Stadium
The estimated total project cost is $130 million. The
District expects to receive $32 million in state assistance
funds which means that $98 million must come from
local taxpayers.
Lewis & Clark, Marcus, and Sacajawea were built in
1971. Continued population growth in the south and
west areas of the District requires more schools to be
built there. The Jefferson wing is 60 years old and does
not meet the needs of 21 st century learners. The growing
HomeLink program housed at Southside Church needs
more space. The current Chief Joseph HVAC system is
inefficient and cannot be repaired.
The Richland School District’s current bond tax rate is
$1.21 per $1000 of assessed valuation. If voters approve
the bond issue, the estimated tax rate would increase 34
cents to $1.55 in 2014. Yearly property taxes would
increase $68 on a $200,000 home. The rate would
decrease to $1.19 in 2023. This bond debt would be
retired in 15 years in the year 2029. Bond issue
information is available at: www.rsd.edu/about/2013-
bond-issue.html