Auburn voters to consider school construction bond on Nov. ballot

If approved by voters in November, the bond would rebuild outdated schools and more.

By Robert Whale • September 12, 2024 1:30 pm
The exterior of the rebuilt Terminal Park Elementary School, 1101 D St. SE, Auburn. The remodeled school opened in Sept. 2023 and was the final school financed by the district’s 2016 bond. File photo
The exterior of the rebuilt Terminal Park Elementary School, 1101 D St. SE, Auburn. The remodeled school opened in Sept. 2023 and was the final school financed by the district’s 2016 bond. File photo

The Auburn School District says its aging schools are costly to maintain and lack essential features of new schools.

And while the district takes care of its schools, after more than 50 years, the old ones divert money from the educational operating budget for repairs.

That’s why ASD’s Board of Directors has set a bond election for Tuesday, Nov. 5. The goal is to provide additional classrooms, improve safety, and address critical systems at those geriatric schools.

“Right now, we have enough middle school students to fill a fifth middle school, and we also need to replace Cascade Middle School and Alpac Elementary,” Dr. Alan Spicciati, Superintendent of the Auburn School District, said Monday.

The amount of the bond is $532,100,000. According to the ASD, the projected tax rate for the bond is 81 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, or $37.13 per month on a $550,000 home. The total ASD tax rate on a $550,000 home, for all voter-approved bonds and levies, is projected to be $252.54 per month or $3,030.50 on a $550,000 home.

Here’s what voters would get for their money.

A fifth middle school, on ASD property on Sumner-Tapps Highway East;

Replacement of 57-year-old Cascade Middle School on ASD property on I St. NE and 40th St. NE;

Replacement of 52-year-old Alpac Elementary School on its current site; and

Improvements at 16 schools and six support buildings to address safety, security, and critical systems.

According to Spicciati, the new and rebuilt schools will increase student safety, provide infrastructure for modern technology, improve parking and access, offer more energy-efficient heating, cooling and lighting, and cut overcrowding at the middle schools.

“We’re going to rebuild Cascade Middle School on property we own on I street Northeast, and that’ll give us a bigger site for all of the fields and parking,” Spicciati said. “We will save the current building for other appropriate uses in the future. We don’t know yet what those will be, but we could use it for training and many other programs.”

More than 40 ASD community members, parents and staff served on a 2023 citizens committee that examined the district’s facilities, evaluated the need for new buildings, and made recommendations to accommodate district needs for the next 10 years. After meeting for 12 weeks, the committee presented its highest priority projects to the board.

Over the past eight years, the district has built Bowman Creek Elementary and Willow Crest Elementary, and razed and replaced Olympic Middle School, Chinook Elementary, Dick Scobee Elementary, Lea Hill Elementary, Pioneer Elementary and Terminal Park Elementary. All projects came in on time and on budget. Complete information is available on the district website at www.auburn.wednet.edu/2024bond.

Why now?

“The board passed the resolution in June, but over the summer, it’s hard to get a lot of people’s attention. We’re excited to be on the November ballot because we know participation will be strong in this election,” Spicciati said.

The ASD plans to hold numerous public meetings before the election to get the word out. Those meetings will be announced as they come up.