The Vashon school board on Thursday approved a $9.9 million bond measure to fund the repair and replacement of aging athletic facilities and other infrastructure at the island’s three schools.
The measure will be brought to island voters in an April 25 special election and must receive a 60 percent supermajority to pass.
Projects included in the bond are the replacement of Vashon High School’s track and field with all-weather turf and an eight-lane rubberized track; the construction of a new maintenance building; re-roofing the high school’s Building F; renovating Building K, which houses the StudentLink and FamilyLink programs; replacing bleachers in the high school gym and re-roofing the building; replacing furniture at Chautauqua Elementary School and renovating locker rooms at McMurray Middle School.
The largest of the projects is the replacement of the high school’s track and field and bleacher repair, which is expected to cost $5.3 million. Synthetic turf will replace the high school’s grass field, but crumb rubber infill, which has become controversial in athletic communities, will not be used. An alternative infill yet to be decided will take its place. Meanwhile, the track will be upgraded from its current six lanes to eight and the cinder will be replaced with an all-weather surface.
The track and field decisions come after multiple presentations by a turf expert and public forums with island residents. A synthetic turf field costs $800,000 more than a natural field, but requires less water and maintenance, while supporting more use. A grass field, while cheaper, requires water and ongoing maintenance that still prevents use year-round.
Also at the high school, minor repairs will be made to the stadium grandstand to stabilize it and add wheelchair access.
The high school gym’s wooden bleachers will be replaced with plastic ones and rails will be added. The gym will also receive some seismic upgrading and a new roof. Costs for this are estimated at $484,000.
Building K will receive around $500,000 in repairs including a new HVAC system, roof and indoor remodeling.
A new 3,500-square-foot, $2.2 million maintenance building for the district’s facilities employees and maintenance tools storage will also be constructed.
The proposal represents 10 months of work by the Vashon Island School District board on the heels of last February’s $26.5 million bond attempt, which failed.
More information about the April 25 election will be available on the King County Elections site in March.
‘Pro,’ ‘con’ committees
The Vashon school district needs volunteers to serve on “pro” and ”con” statement committees for the April 25 election voters pamphlet. Those interested in serving on a committee should email Jodi Burwell, board secretary, at jburwell@vashonsd.org by Wednesday, Feb. 23.
