Moses Lake to discuss potential bond

District looks to build two schools

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board is discussing a potential bond of roughly $30 million during an informal work session Thursday.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. in the district office.

Two new elementary schools, an expansion of special education program space, safety improvements, a new gym at Chief Moses Middle School and improvements to Lions Field are among projects included on the list. The total cost is projected at between $26 million and $33 million.

The Facilities Committee recommends the bond go on the February ballot. The district must make a decision by December 15.

Between 500 and 600 new elementary school students are expected in the next five years, District Superintendent Steve Chestnut said.

"That's where our biggest growth is right now," Chestnut said. Because it already owns four pieces of property, the district would not need additional land for the elementary schools, he said.

Among other improvements, the district is discussing reconfiguring the parking lot at Moses Lake High School. For physical education improvements, the district would like to build a full-sized basketball court for physical education at Chief Moses Middle School. At Lions Field, the Facilities Committee recommends new bleachers, a press box, concession stand, bathroom and space for parking.

Special Assistant to the Superintendent P.J. De Benedetti said the district looked at projected growth during the next 20 years to predict facility needs and other improvement needs.

Each elementary school would be built to accommodate 500 students, De Benedetti said.

The district would need to make sure the older schools are comparable to new schools, but knowing what to compare them to is difficult at this point, he said.

The second elementary school would not be started until three or four years from now, so the cost is unpredictable too, he said.

A draft of the Facilities Committee recommendation overview states: "The estimated cost of construction of the two elementary schools is rough because costs have been escalating rapidly recently. Architects are optimistic that costs may plateau, but it is prudent to budget conservatively rather than have less money than necessary to complete the projects."

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Monte Redal said the district is experiencing a steady 1.5 to 2 percent growth.

The special education multiple handicapped rooms are overcrowded and the district is required by law to adequately serve the needs of those students, Redal said.

"We're running out of room," Redal said.

In addition to the other improvements, the district proposes technology upgrades for all district schools. The Facilities Committee recommends making technology at existing schools comparable to that of the new schools.