Othello School District discusses bond
At least some Othello School District patrons are skeptical of having a kindergarten through fifth grade school and a middle school in close proximity. Most of the 183 respondents to a survey conducted by the district also preferred one construction bond proposal to two. The survey results were presented to Othello School Board members Monday night
District superintendent Chris Hurst said the survey was part of the district’s effort to get the message out about a construction bond scheduled for February.
What will be in the bond has not been determined yet. Board members voted in July to offer a bond to district residents, but have not decided what will be in the final proposal. A committee of district patrons and school officials recommended building a new kindergarten through fifth grade school and a new middle school on district-owned property at 14th Street and Lee Road. The committee also recommended expanding Othello High School.
Board member Tony Ashton also floated the idea of two bonds, one with the K-5 and middle school, and a second with the high school expansion. The board also has discussed a new athletic complex and an auditorium as part of a bond package.
The survey asked respondents if they wanted to leave comments, and about 35 of them did. School district staff was surveyed as well.
“It was interesting — it was somewhat uncomfortable to hear how some of the community members felt and also how the staff members felt about where we are in the district and how everyone is feeling about the vision,” Hurst said. “But no matter how uncomfortable it was, it was good for me to hear.”
About 72 percent of the survey respondents preferred one bond that would include the elementary, middle school and high school projects. Close to 28 percent chose the option of two bonds, with the elementary-middle school project coming first.
The respondents were split almost evenly on the question of including a new athletic complex or auditorium in whatever bond proposal is submitted.
Of the responses, 10 didn’t like the idea of kindergarten through eighth graders in close proximity. The committee recommended two different buildings for K-5 and 6-8, but with some shared space. One respondent called that idea a “bad lemon.”
“Core area will not work for all 8 grades,” wrote another.
School district staff recommended clarification of the concept behind the two buildings and explaining to Othello residents exactly how it would work. They also recommended specifics about the benefits.
Some survey respondents expressed concern about the costs, and the OSD staff said district officials should work to make the case the new facilities are needed.