Othello to proceed with school construction bond

OTHELLO — Othello School District patrons will be asked to approve or reject a construction bond, in one form or another, in February 2018. The actual projects in the bond, and as a result the bond amount, will be determined during the fall, after a series of community meetings.

Othello School Board members chose to explore the bond option recommended after a series of community meetings. The option includes a new elementary school, kindergarten through fifth grade and a new middle school, sixth through eighth grade.

The proposal also included remodeling and expansion at Othello High School, and an athletic complex. Board member Tony Ashton suggested making the OHS expansion and the athletic complex a separate bond, to be offered to district patrons in 2019.

The new elementary school and middle school would be located on district-owned property at the intersection of 14th Street and Lee Road. Each would have its own building but would share some common space.

Because the Washington Legislature hasn’t approved its capital budget, district officials are unsure how much Othello would receive in state construction funds. Ashton said the funding uncertainty seemed to him “even more of a reason” to run two separate bonds

“I don’t want this whole thing to sink because the community says we don’t want a football field. And now we’re not going to build a K-8 school because we don’t want a football field. That’s where my hesitation is. I don’t want the bond to fail because the community doesn’t want a football field,” Ashton said.

“But it could be the other way around, too,” said board member Stewart Hilmes. Some voters could be more interested in the football field than the elementary and middle schools, he said.

“I think as much information as we can collect from the public, and whoever else – our constituents – is going to help us pass this bond,” Hilmes said. “We’re going to need all the information we can collect.”

Hilmes said he liked the idea of two bonds, but he wanted to hear from district patrons before making any decisions. “I think we’re going to need some feedback from our community to really tell us what direction we need to go.”

Board member Mike Garza said he liked the idea of two bonds, after listening to the discussion. Board member Rob Simmons said the board should lay the options before district patrons and let them decide. “I think we just need to be open-minded about it – OK, there are different ways we can do this and we need to hear from the community. They’re the ones who are going to vote, so we’ve got to go with what they think is the best way to go.”

An information committee will be formed to detail the options for district patrons and get their reaction.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.