$500 Million Bond For Tacoma Schools?
According to an article in the TNT this week, Tacoma Public Schools is considering asking voters to approve $500 million for capital projects. A public hearing will be held tonight, Thursday, October 18 at 5:30 p.m. at District headquarters on the possibility of a new bond measure.
The money would go to build new schools in Tacoma, or to repair existing buildings, including completing remodels at Wilson High School, McCarver Elementary, and Stewart Middle School; building a permanent home for SAMI, the district’s Science and Math Institute; replacing eight currently operating elementary schools, as well as closed schools Wainwright Elementary and Hunt Middle School.
Apparently the school district could refinance its debt, leading to significant long-term savings, and freeing up taxing capacity. The potential bond increase would amount to about $1 (for a total of just over $7.80) per $1,000 of assessed property value through 2020.
The remodels and rebuilds of Tacoma’s schools that we’ve seen so far have created some pretty nice spaces for our kids to learn in. What do you think about the possibility of a new bond measure to invest in a few more schools?
Read more from The News Tribune.
UPDATE: Read more about the concerns voiced at the School Board meeting from the TNT.
Filed under: Tacoma Schools
14 comments
A anon2k2 October 18, 2012
Replacements for closed schools? Sounds odd.
J Jesse October 18, 2012
How about a $300m bond for schools, don’t replace schools (Wainwright and Hunt) that aren’t in use, and adding $80m (coupled with $80m matching from ST = $160m total plus other federal monies) for downtown streetcar, and $220m for road reconstruction around Tacoma?
I think that’s a better way to spend $500m.
C Christine October 18, 2012
Jesse, I’ve got to say I like that idea. I don’t know the details of what you propose, but it is a heck of an “elevator pitch”.
J jsisbest October 19, 2012
The new and remodeled schools that were completed under the last bond measure are excellent. Especially the new Gray Middle School. The District has proven that it knows how to spend money on capital projects effectively and responsibly. This will greatly increase the chances of the next bond measure passing. Let’s continue to build on the successes of Tacoma Public Schools! Not to mention the success of SAMI and SOTA.
F fred davie October 20, 2012
We can’t educate the future leaders of our region unless we provide them with palaces to “learn” in. Make sure there are plenty of enormous window walls and lots of big Hi Def TeeVees hanging on every wall to remind them of the special privileges they should come to expect as adults in our society.
J Jesse October 21, 2012
@fred: Tacoma has a knack for ignoring the sociological/psychological ramifications of decision making. Whether it be a Tollefson Plaza that nobody wants to hang out in, the atrocious roads downtown, the 20 different types of street lights, or the city sponsored vacant lots… these things communicate a message about what priorities we have here.
With schools, it’s the same thing. While you can learn, in a trailer, everything you can learn in a palace, it becomes about the message. When a kid arrives at a run down school, they get the message that school isn’t important to society… or kids in their area aren’t as important as others with new schools.
Basically I’m saying that there’s plenty said without saying anything at all. Tacoma is a town full of non-verbal messages to businesses, students, and the public…
I do agree, however, that schools do need to be remodeled… but completely bulldozed or replacing vacant schools, building new schools like SAMI when Foss has plenty of room is just a waste of money when there are so many other things to fix.
F fred davie October 22, 2012
Jesse, much of what you wrote is agreeable to me. I would move programs to where surplus facilities are already available rather than breaking ground for yet additional construction.
Regarding the quality of the facilities I don’t think it’s fair to say that we either have palaces or else the students will be learning in “trailers”. Certainly there is a middle ground. If a facility is a little old and a little tarnished then let’s shower some attention on it and make it look more appealing.
Students need to learn a life lesson. As adults they are going to need to maintain all kinds of stuff and increase the useful life of almost everything they acquire. Might as well start teaching this lesson NOW while their habits are still formative.
J jsisbest October 22, 2012
This whole “palaces” discussion is a bit over the top. Aside from Stadium High School, which already resembled a palace, there are NO palaces in Tacoma Public Schools. I challenge you to go visit the new Wilson High, it’s more state penitentiary than public education palace! The new schools built are pretty bare bones. There’s little excessive spending on these projects when it comes to spaces themselves. @Fred, I love your comment that we should just make the schools LOOK more appealing. That assumes that the improvements to the HVAC/energy systems and daylighting are a waste of money. The number one priority with improving older schools is to make them PERFORM better, not look better. Access to daylight, clean well tempered air, and non-toxic finishes don’t just help kids learn better, they prevent illness! Performance! As for this argument that we should reduce the amount that the schools invest in new technology… Public Education needs to prepare our children for a society and careers that meet our country’s present demand. In case you haven’t been paying attention, the last say 30 years…
F fred davie October 22, 2012
“The new schools built are pretty bare bones”
Really? Go take a tour of Mt. Tahoma HS. That $84M ode to excess is about as far away from “bare bones” as you can get.
Regarding the HVAC systems, when they are worn out they should be rebuilt or replaced, I never said anything about that.
Regarding the property taxes needed to fund this construction I would say this, the extra money a homeowner will pay to provide a nicer school building would also help him or her improve their own home. Maybe the homeowner needs a new HVAC system for his home. Maybe the children in his home need better access to daylight and some improved technology so that they can prepare for society and careers. I don’t want homeowners to have to live like hillbillies so they can somehow cover their property tax payments.
J JJ October 24, 2012
Just build lots of Quonset huts instead for the students.It will be far less expensive and adequate.
One Quonset hut will suffice for one classroom etc.
J John October 24, 2012
Fred, the proposed increase is about $1 per $1,000. Since your new role on this site appears to be proponent for the poor, and defender of Tacoma’s over-taxed and impoverished homeowners, please let me know where I can get a new HVAC system for around $200 (preferably installed). Or maybe new windows to provide better access to daylight for my kids. Thank you for caring, and not wanting us to live in tar-paper shacks with tin roofs like a bunch of hillbillies. Can I keep my still, though? The moonshine is all that keeps me going during these tough times.
F fred davie October 24, 2012
“Fred, the proposed increase is about $1 per $1,000. Since your new role on this site appears to be proponent for the poor, and defender of Tacoma’s over-taxed and impoverished homeowners, please let me know where I can get a new HVAC system for around $200 (preferably installed).”
John, since you have a new role as representative for the reading comprehension challenged let me point out a key element of the proposal that you missed. It says in the story that the tax increase would be $1 per thousand THROUGH THE YEAR 2020. For the owner of a modest $200K home that would be $1600, not $200. Pretty sure I could find a furnace company who would install a new furnace in your home for a $1600 down payment.
J John October 25, 2012
So if I need a new HVAC system in my house, all I have to do is save for eight years to have enough for a down payment? Pardon my inability to comprehend what is being said here, but that doesn’t really sound like what you suggested in #9 (“Maybe the owner needs a new HVAC system for their home.”…I picked up more of a sense of urgency here than someone planning to buy a new furnace down the road). I guess if the measure doesn’t pass, I can use the money I save and take a reading compehension course and finally be able to understand what you’ve been going on about all this time, because quite frankly, your views on the issues, and your single-minded determination that all that matters is money, usually confuse the hell out of me. If it does pass though, I suppose you’re stuck with my confusion, inabilty to read, and my “limousine-liberal” ideals.
F fred davie October 25, 2012
Sorry about your confusion.
A person with $1600 in his pocket today or with an extra $200 each year for 8 consecutive years will be MORE LIKELY to be able to purchase or make payments on a HVAC system or a couple of new windows. When he is oblibated via the property tax laws to make these payments to the county assessor he is LESS LIKELY to be able to afford these things which he may wish to provide for his family.
I don’t see why it’s important for the schools to have new HVAC systems and new windows, but it’s not important for the parents of school children to have working furnaces and windows in their homes. We’re talking about the SAME CHILDREN.
Sorry that discussions involving budgeting and family finances are so hard for you to comprehend. I’ll try to provide simpler examples for you in the future.