A very practical matter

The Colfax School District is seeking voter approval for a bond for improvements and repairs to its school buildings. A long list of needs justify the bond and should justify voter approval. The needs list is extensive and important.

The requested bond is for $18.9 million.

Both Jennings Elementary and Colfax Junior/Senior High School are older buildings and have been in use since the 1950s.

A school building in Pullman, built at virtually the same time as Jennings, was torn down several years ago.

It is said that the building had so deteriorated, basically from deferred maintenance, that the board could not economically continue its use.

In contrast, Jennings and the junior/high school have been well maintained. They need some work, but the district does not need new facilities.

Despite years of use, the buildings are sound and worth repairing and improving. That is the value of maintenance. It shows the school district’s respect for the buildings in its charge and the taxpayers who provide them.

Also on the ballot for Feb. 13, is a Maintenance and Operations levy that replaces the current levy.

Total local taxes for these two issues will be less than the previous maintenance and operations levy and the retiring bond. It is estimated that local collections will be about 25 cents less per thousand dollars of assessed value than the current collections.

This reduction, despite the new, larger bond request, is due to legislation in Olympia capping Maintenance and Operations levies.

This reduction does not include changes in state assessments over which the local board has no control.

The bond will preserve these buildings and add important features to them.

Three areas are highlighted.

Safety and security involves removal of asbestos from the junior/senior high school building, an improved entry to allow monitoring, increased security cameras and electronic access on the 17 exterior doors, to mention just some.

Protecting the investment involves replacing the leaking roofs on both buildings and a complete renovation of the heating and cooling systems.

Renovating instructional and public areas involves all classrooms and virtually the entire junior/high school facility as well as the Jennings gymnasium.

A full list of priorities is available. Also a League of Women Voters forum on the subject will be in Colfax on Jan. 23, and a tour of the schools will be conducted on Feb. 5.

Time goes on. Repairing and improving these facilities now will avoid what happened in Pullman.

The needs are not frivolous. They are not unnecessary.

In many respects, this is a very practical matter—one that needs to be considered and supported.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher