The Coupeville School Board was slated to pass a resolution this week to put a $5-million capital facilities levy on the ballot in the spring.
Due to early holiday press deadlines, The Examiner went to press prior to the meeting.
The proposed levy will collect $5 million in property tax revenue over three years, starting in 2016.
The levy increase will cost a homeowner with a $200,000 home about $180 more a year in property taxes, according to the school district.
A special election will be held Tuesday, April 28. The original discussion by the school board targeted a February special election, but Superintendent Jim Shank said they didn’t feel like their would be enough time to effectively pass the levy.
The school district’s plan is to break projects up into three phases and pay for the construction as taxes are collected, Shank said.
The first phase will include remodeling the elementary school restroom, repairing a wall, the middle school heating and ventilation system, replacing the track, replacing gym bleachers and adding additional bleachers at the football field.
Construction would start in the spring of 2016; however, much of the first phase will be conducted in the summer when school is out.
Some of the projects would require cutting holes in the roof and could be disruptive if school were in session.
Shank said the district is already working on getting permits in place so if the levy passes, the district can ensure it stays on schedule.
One obstacle the district is dealing with is a deadline on plans for Engle Field. If the district doesn’t have the ball rolling by this spring, it will have to start over on the project.
The Engle Field plan was adopted 10 years ago in conjunction with construction of the high school. Due to the economy and other costs, the district ran out of money to complete the project.
Even though construction wouldn’t start until 2016, Shank said the plans should still be good.
“We’ve been in communication with people,” Shank said. “I think we’re going to be OK. We’re as confident as we can be from this side.”
The district has also built some contingencies into the levy to ensure it doesn’t run out of funds before completing all the projects.
Phase two would occur in 2017 and would include replacing the middle school roof and floors, replacing the elementary school heating and ventilation system, completing Engle Field, replacing track equipment and resurfacing the tennis court.
Phase three, to be completed in 2018, includes one of the largest expenditures with an addition at the elementary school estimating to cost $1 million.
The second largest expenditure is replacing the track in phase one at an estimated cost of $727,000.
Shank said most of the estimated costs are based on hard estimates and the addition includes anticipated engineering services.
The third phase also includes sound and lighting in the performing arts center, replacing middle school windows and creating restroom and concessions at the athletic fields.
“We’re excited to move forward,” Shank said. “These are projects that need to be done. We appreciate all the support from the community on getting these things done.”
