An alternative proposal for school bond

What happened to the promise of keeping our tax rate at/or below $5 per $1,000 of assessment as we were told when we voted for the $79,000,000 bond just five years ago? With this new (Cheney High School) $44,885,830 bond the rate is projected to go to $5.79. In addition, within five years there will be a need for another elementary (about $18,000,000) since there are already portables in use at Windsor and Sunset. In 10 years the plan calls for another $42,900,000 for the rest of the High School.

There is another way to take care of the needs and slow down the rise in taxes. The cost would be only $11.6 million compared to the $45 million bond. To get to this plan requires a “No” vote on the $45 million bond. $11.6 million vs. $45 million.

Classroom addition, $9 million vs. $9 million. New classrooms will be needed.

Wrestling/aerobics addition $0 million vs. $1.5 million. There is an existing dedicated wrestling room and existing gyms for aerobics.

Alternative school new construction at the high school, cost $1.15 million vs. $2.3 million.

A new, third gym, $0 million vs. $3.1 million. There are already two large gyms that can be split.

A new performing arts center, $0 million vs. $13.9 million. An existing high school theater hosted plays last year and this year with no one turned away for lack of space. There is a stage at Betz, a brand new 30-foot-by-50-foot stage at the new Cheney Middle School, Showalter at EWU, and the main high school gym approved by voters in 1995 as a multipurpose facility and still can hold the entire student body.

A new commons/cafeteria/administration addition/safety $1.5 million vs. $15.1 million.

The issue of students eating in the hallways could be solved right now. There is currently only seating for 124 students. The posted capacity is 320.

Additional chairs/tables would accommodate the 200 students in the hallways. The existing security office would be reconfigured, new door locks would be installed, the admin offices would stay where they are, and two blocked off hallways would be connected for added circulation.

Bill Johns

Cheney