Toledo Superintendent Chris Rust discusses an analysis of different bond options with the district's Facilities Advisory Committee in late June at the high school. The district will hold an informational meeting on the McCleary decision on Dec. 5.
Initial results from election night indicate the Toledo School District has finally passed its bond for a new high school, and as of Wednesday evening, this is still true.
“I’m really just thankful to the voters that they recognized the need and supported it,” said Brad Dykstra, chairman of the Toledo School Board.
As of 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 73.06 percent of Toledo voters approved the $7 million bond. Bonds need a 60 percent supermajority to pass in Washington.
“I really expected it to pass,” said Chris Rust, who is the Toledo School District superintendent. “I felt like this was a really good deal for our community. I felt like we got the message out there and made it clear what this was all about. I think our community heard that.”
Toledo School District will also receive $18 million in state funds to build a new high school. The $18 million will consist of a $10 million grant from the state for distressed schools and $8 million in state School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) funding. In total, the school district will have a $25 million budget for a new high school.
“I think it was important that people understood this was a different proposition and had nothing to do with what we had done before,” Rust said. “No track. No restrooms. It is a brand-new high school. When people started to see that, I think that’s when things turned around.”
Dykstra said he felt Toledo voters shifted their opinions toward the end of summer, after a bond committee came together to campaign. Dale Merten — who is the chief operating officer of ToledoTel and chairman of the Bond Committee — was moose hunting in Canada, but called into a local party several times to check the results.
“This is fantastic,” Merten said on the phone. “It reflects on the effort the community put forward to get the information out to voters.”
The Toledo School Board voted unanimously in May to place the $7 million bond measure in front of voters on the November ballot for a 21-year term. The rate will be $0.76 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
“It’s been such a long road,” Rust said. “We’re just so grateful to our community for the support.”
