Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A Colton school improvements and security bond will go before the voters April 23.
The $5.6 million 30-year bond would fund a new entryway to the building, gravel parking lot and energy-efficiency changes including heating, air conditioning, electrical and plumbing.
It will be the third effort to pass a Colton school bond in the past three years.
“More than anything we’ve tried to go through and prioritize,” said Superintendent Nate Smith.
Previous measures which failed in the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011 featured a gym addition, new bus barn and site and landscape improvements.
Reductions for this year’s proposal include elimination of the bus barn proposal and additional cuts in the gymnasium and locker room plans. The plan also reduces the number of interior walls that would need to be moved. Cost for surfacing the parking lot was reduced by listing gravel instead of paving.
The proposed plan for the gym includes an addition of two small locker rooms, remodeling of the present locker rooms and upgrades of acoustical, safety and public access.
The $5.6 million figure is just over half of the total cost to institute the changes. The remaining $4.2 million would come from Washington state capital projects funding.
The proposed new parking lot would be at the west end of the school building, adjacent to the proposed new entryway, which would allow visitors to be seen coming in and out.
Now the entrance is on the building’s east side and leads to a small foyer before a split level entry staircase.
Energy improvements in the bond include replacement of original 1939 black steel metal pipes which deliver heat to the classrooms.
Last summer, the school replaced its original boiler in a $500,000 project funded by the district and a state of Washington Energy Efficiency Grant.
Smith said that while the school is now saving on heating costs, the delivery of the heat still is an issue.
“We can make steam very efficiently but we can’t get it to our classrooms very well,” he said. “The classrooms closest to the boiler get hot while the classrooms farthest away are cold.”
The estimated tax levy for the proposed bond comes in at $2.20 per thousand dollars in assessed property valuation while the previous effort in 2011 was $2.67 per thousand.
The 2011 bond failed by nine votes. The 2010 version went down by 54 votes.
“We’ve been very close,” said Smith. “I think our community is wanting to support this, we just need to get it in a state where it fits with their personal finances. I just don’t think the project has been right yet.”
The new bond is put forth by the Colton School District board, which formed a capital projects committee six years ago.
Smith and board members will hold two meetings for the public: March 20 at Colton School cafeteria at 7 p.m. and March 27 at Uniontown Community Center, also at 7 p.m.
“Interest rates are at all-time lows,” he said. “If they go up, there’s just no way we can put this project in front of our constituents in an affordable way.”
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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