As board members who are also citizens, taxpayers, parents and grandparents, we take seriously our responsibility to educate our community’s children and steward our community’s capital assets. For the past 10 months, the board and a planning team that includes the superintendent, capital projects consultant and facilities director have been reconsidering the unsuccessful Feb. 9, 2016, bond proposal. We have listened to concerned citizens, researched alternatives and discussed new proposals that would preserve or enhance the value of our structures and fields.

The board plans to offer a new, less-costly proposal for a vote on April 25. We have tightened our focus, but have not yet decided exactly what that proposal will include. The proposal under consideration will replace the Vashon High School track and field; build a new maintenance shop; and repair, replace and improve portions of Chautauqua Elementary School, McMurray Middle School and outbuildings on the high school campus. The estimated cost of these proposed projects (including the planning cost) is $9,998,463.

Our planning has been guided by three related principles:

1. Balance the goals of improving facilities for our students and staff, and holding down taxes for our neighbors.

2. Extend the life of existing facilities when we can do so by making relatively small investments.

3. Minimize environmental impact and maximize flexibility of use when we build or substantially remodel district facilities.

During January, the board has been seeking feedback from members of the community. We held four public meetings in a variety of locations around the community, and this week the board will consider all of the community feedback we received as we discuss and determine which projects to include in the bond proposal. Please come to this important meeting at 7 p.m. tomorrow evening, Thursday, in the Chautauqua Elementary conference room on the second floor. Our decision-making process may not please everyone, but it will be transparent. A final decision must be made at a board meeting on Feb. 16 in order to meet King County’s deadline for filing the bond resolution for an April election.

Detailed information about the projects under consideration is on the district website: vashonsd.org. The largest projects under consideration include the following:

VHS Track and Field

While the proposal draft includes money for an eight-lane rubberized track and an all-weather synthetic turf field, the board has not yet decided on an eight-lane rather than a six-lane track, or a synthetic, rather than a grass field. It has decided that if synthetic turf is used, the infill material will not be crumb rubber. A synthetic turf field would cost an estimated $800,000 more than a new grass field and might have to be replaced in eight to 12 years. On the other hand, it would save water, reduce maintenance costs and provide the community with a field that could be used all day in any weather. We are discussing how to set aside money for replacing synthetic turf. Estimated initial cost of the track and field project is $5.3 million.

Maintenance Building

Under the draft proposal, we would build a maintenance building on the existing site to house shops and store frequently used supplies. We would also re-roof the existing maintenance building for continued use as storage space. Building F, a remnant of the old high school originally built in 1930 that is currently used for storage, has a roof at the end of its useful life. Estimated cost of the work: $2,358,960.

Improvements to Chautauqua, McMurray and Student/FamilyLink

At Chautauqua, both students and teachers are still using furniture that was moved from the old Vashon and Burton elementary schools when Chautauqua was opened more than 20 years ago. Some of the furniture is broken, and most has seen better days. Chautauqua’s exterior paint is approaching the end of its useful life. The kindergarten playground has become crowded due to the new full-day kindergarten program, and shelter is required for inclement weather.

At McMurray, lockers are broken; showers have become de facto storage spaces, and window frames, teacher furniture and carpets are worn out. There, too, exterior paint is approaching the end of its useful life.

At Building K, which now serves students in StudentLink and FamilyLink, the roof and floor coverings are worn out, mechanical and plumbing systems have reached the verge of failure and interior spaces provide little flexibility for current programs.

The proposal to update these components in all three buildings would cost an estimated $2,069,503.

We invite your continued input and participation as we finalize this bond proposal. Please consider coming to the meeting tomorrow or, as always, email the board of directors (vashonschoolboard@vashonsd.org) or the superintendent (msoltman@vashonsd.org) with comments, questions or information about the tentative proposal.

— Zabette Macomber is serving her first term as a member of the Vashon Island School District Board of Directors.