Possible construction bond subject of Othello community meetings

OTHELLO — Othello School District patrons are being invited to a series of community meetings to determine what might be in a possible construction bond proposal.

The first meeting is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. March 7 at McFarland Middle School. Subsequent meetings are scheduled for March 23 and 28, April 11 and 25, May 9 and 25.

It’s the continuation of a process that started with a community meeting in January. Participants at that meeting concluded that a new high school should be included in any bond proposal.

The meetings are designed “to really hone in and focus, make some decisions on what building or buildings are going to be taken to the next step, which would be design,” said assistant superintendent Gina Bullis.

The group will make a recommendation to the school board in June, whether or not to pursue a bond proposal. If the answer to that question is yes, the committee will list the facilities they think should be included.

In other business at the board’s regular meeting Monday, board members asked for additional alternatives in a project to rebuild the tennis courts at Othello High School.

A contract was awarded in 2016, but the project was delayed.

The original contract called for six courts at the high school but, said board member Rob Simmons, in the meantime the board has started talking about other options. The board asked a community committee to look at the possibility of a capital levy to fund a sports complex. Simmons said Othello city officials are studying improvements to city-owned facilities, including tennis courts.

In light of that, Simmons said, he wanted an option for downsizing the OHS project. Bullis said the bid could include four courts with an option for two more. The original bid included an option for a concession stand, and board member Tony Ashton said he wanted to keep that in the bid proposal.

Board members discussed proposing a change in the way board members qualify for board positions. Ultimately district voters would be asked to approve or reject it.

At this time the district has four director districts, which means the board member must live in the district he or she represents. The fifth seat is at-large, which means the board member can live anywhere in the district. Currently Mike Garza holds the at-large seat.

Ashton said he understands the rationale for director districts, making sure all groups in the community are represented. But in his opinion that’s not a big problem in a smaller town like Othello, he said. He is proposing doing away with director districts completely, and going to a setup where all five board members are at large.

Board members discussed a possible timeline for a vote, but didn’t set a timetable.