After residents of Napavine voted overwhelming against a $17.995 million capital bond for the school district, officials will be holding a meeting to discuss what options the community would like to see next.
The bond, which included a comprehensive plan to upgrade facilities in part by adding nine classrooms and building a middle school wing, was rejected by more than 68 percent of voters.
“The sole purpose of the meeting is to just be there and listen to our community members, our voters, and hear their concerns with the bond proposal, because obviously it was not well received,” Napavine Superintendent Rick Jones said.
“We’ll then learn from them what they would like to see the district do moving forward to address the facility needs that are very real.”
Jones said the district does not have a plan or a suggestion moving forward, and that the input resulting from the meeting will help guide the district.
After the comments are gathered, the school board, the facilities committee that worked on the bond plan and a group of citizens will begin the process of deciding what to do next.
“Those groups certainly have a stake in the future, and we want those groups to hear and understand their concerns and suggestions of the community moving forward so it will be a process of engaging all those stakeholders and talking about lessons learned and suggestions for how we improve and go forward,” Jones said.
The district has no timeline for another bond, if that is what they decide to do, Jones said. As of now, the district has a school levy that needs to be renewed next year, and that is the only initiative that will for sure be placed before voters.
Only one meeting is scheduled since the school’s calendar year is quickly coming to a close.
For those who cannot attend the meeting, the superintendent said they could contact him at the school, via email, or set up a time to meet with him in person to voice any concerns, comments or suggestions.
As for the two committees responsible for putting the previous bond plans together, Jones said he is unsure of how many members are interested in continuing in the future, and he said he is open and encouraging to others who would be interested in being involved. He said that issue will be addressed at a future date.
If the bond had passed, it would have included a $9.6 million state match to add to a total of $27.605 million.
The estimated tax impact would have been $2.53 per $1,000 in assessed value and would have been added to the 93 cents taxpayers are currently paying on an existing bond, bringing the total to $3.46 per $1,000.
