May 20th Bond Measure News
Bond election passes with 60.4 % YES!

June 2, 2003 -It’s final, the Renton School District Technology and Construction bond election was certified on Friday, May 31, and the measure passed with a 60.4 percent yes vote. More than 17,000 voters turned out for the Tuesday, May 20 election, the highest number of voters in any of the previous elections.

Renton Schools Superintendent Dolores Gibbons acknowledged the hard work of the volunteers of the Citizens for Renton Schools committee — a volunteer community organization responsible for running school election campaigns — as well as the contributions of staff, parents, students and community groups for working tirelessly to inform voters and getting their approval of the measure.

“The amount of work that goes in to helping our community understand the importance of passing this measure is enormous,” Dr. Gibbons said. “This has been a tireless effort on the part of so many people. It is truly wonderful to have a community that is dedicated to the education of children.”

The process for implementing the technology and construction improvements is to first sell bonds to secure the resources. Interest rates are currently at an all-time low making now a good time to sell bonds saving thousands of dollars in interest fees. A timeline for selling the bonds is currently being designed by the district’s assistant superintendent for business.

Equity: something for every student and staff member - A list of projects planned for all schools in this final phase of the district's 20-year school improvement plan. Find out what's in store for your school here. Read more...

Questions and Answers About the Bond

What is a school building construction bond?

Bonds are a means of financing major school construction projects, much like a home mortgage. Citizens authorize the district to offer bonds to investors and pledge repayment through property taxes collected over a specified number of years. Bond monies, by law, can only be used for school building construction, remodeling or specified capital improvement projects; they cannot be used for salaries or other operating expenses.

The school improvements will be paid for with an estimated tax rate increase of less than 60 cents per thousand of assessed value. If passed, the total tax rate - including this bond, previous bonds and the voter-approved education levy - will be an estimated $3.78 per/$1,000 of assessed value, keeping the Renton School District tax rate among the lowest in the region.

A committee of citizens and staff studied the district's facility needs during the 2000-01 school year. They recommended completing the proposed district facility renovation plan. Phase I, which focused on many elementary and middle schools, was completed in 1998. Phase II focused on high schools, district-wide safety, technology and athletic fields. Most of those projects are now complete; a few are currently under construction. This election will fund Phase III of that long-range plan. Cost estimates are based on recommendations from outside construction engineers and other industry professionals.

With hundreds of students in classes each day, schools wear out at a faster rate than homes. Many renovations are for things such as plumbing, electrical, heating, roofing and seismic upgrades/replacements as well as safety and security systems. Building codes for public facilities are much more safety-oriented now than in years past. It is critically important to upgrade buildings to current standards as they age in order to provide a safe environment for students. The cost of maintaining the current heating, cooling and air-quality systems in our older buildings is claiming too many of our maintenance dollars.

In most cases, it is more cost effective to rebuild rather than to remodel. Estimates are that it costs about $8.5 million to remodel a typical elementary school. To rebuild is an estimated $10 million. With a new building, you gain space to provide for future growth, provide vastly improved parking, use materials that have warranties that last many years longer than replaced materials, provide special purpose spaces such as computer labs and performance stages, and make better use of existing land (saving costs to buy land for additions). Construction codes, safety and security codes, access for the disabled, and many other building regulations often drive a total rebuild of school buildings.

Under the state constitution, school election issues need at least a 60 percent "yes" vote to pass a levy or bond issue, not the simple majority needed by almost all other elections, including those to build ball fields and prisons. Across the state, school districts have struggled to pass levy or bond measures, failing numerous elections by only a few votes, even when they have received more than 59 percent of the votes.