The committee considered facility condition, cost, and educational adequacy when developing a recommendation for a bond measure. Facility condition is assessed by certified professionals, and educational adequacy is assessed by evaluating how well buildings support current teaching, learning, programs, accessibility, and student needs. The recommended plan was identified as providing the greatest overall improvement without raising the tax rate.

The proposed projects would replace or renovate four of the District’s aging facilities and address priority repairs at remaining schools. Upon completion, the average age of District schools is projected to decrease from more than 70 years to approximately 50 years, while improving facility conditions throughout the District.

The Facility Condition Index (FCI) compares the cost of needed building repairs with the value of the facility. Currently, approximately 67% of District schools are in the critical FCI category. The proposed projects are projected to reduce that to approximately 11%.

Item descriptionYes. Operating one K-8 school instead of three separate schools is expected to reduce ongoing costs in areas such as utilities, maintenance, transportation, and other building operations. Additionally, construction of a new facility would save an estimated $13 million dollars in facilities upgrades and ADA updates identified in the assessments of the current school buildings over the next decade. These savings would remain in the District’s operating budget and could be used for other educational needs. 

In addition, students from these three schools would have more consistent access to services and educational opportunities that are not currently available at each school. Consolidation would also allow the District to redirect and concentrate maintenance funding currently used for these three aging facilities toward the District’s remaining older buildings.

The District’s annual budget includes $4.23 million in

 funding for maintenance, repairs, inspections, facility operations, and capital improvements. Beginning last fiscal year, the District also established an annual capital reserve of at least $500,000 to help fund more ugrent repairs across all district facilities. Additional capital funding includes construction excise tax revenue and grant funding for eligible projects, such as seismic improvements.

Maintenance needs are prioritized based on safety and urgency, supported by annual inspections of major building systems, roofing, grounds, equipment, parking lots, and other facility needs. Whenever possible, District staff complete projects in-house to stretch available funding and address more needs across the District. New and renovated buildings are also expected to require fewer major repairs, allowing maintenance resources and staff time to be focused on older facilities with greater needs.

The current proposal is significantly different in scope from the previous bond proposal. The previous proposal in the 2023 bond measure assumed approximately 85,000 square feet of new construction. 

The current plan would maximize reuse of viable existing facilities. It includes approximately 15,000–20,000 square feet of new construction, a full renovation of approximately 18,000 square feet of one existing building, a lighter renovation of another 15,000 square feet, and continued use of the approximately 28,000-square-foot gymnasium, which was recently seismically upgraded through a state grant.

By combining targeted new construction with renovation and reuse of existing facilities, the District can substantially reduce the overall project cost while providing updated learning spaces for students.

The bond establishes the funding available and identifies the major projects to be completed, while final design would occur after voter approval. This avoids spending significant design dollars before funding is secured and allows staff, students, and the community to participate in the design process. Prior to the election, the District also plans to provide opportunities for the public to share input through activities that will help inform early design discussions.

The District’s current planning estimates are approximately $35 million for the Silverton Middle School project and $50 million for the new rural K–8 school.

These estimates were developed using current and projected construction costs per square foot for school projects. They also include anticipated design and other project costs, as well as contingencies for unforeseen expenses.At the committee’s recommendation, the District worked with the architect to develop a conservative design approach intended to keep construction costs toward the lower end of current estimates.

We do not have final project costs because detailed design and engineering do not occur until after a bond is approved. Final costs will depend on design decisions, site conditions, construction costs, and the competitive bidding process. Completing detailed design before voter approval would require a significant investment of District resources without certainty that the project would move forward. It could also result in sunk costs, as designs may need to be revised or redone based on timing, available funding, and changing construction conditions. 

After these two major projects are completed, remaining bond funds would be used for other priority facility projects identified across the District.

The District is evaluating options involving the existing Pratum and Central Howell sites. Preliminary planning indicates that only a few additional acres may be needed adjacent to one of these existing properties, and the District has begun researching potential opportunities and design options reducing the need for space. No final site decision has been made.

Current planning does not anticipate purchasing an entirely new, large school site. The focus is on determining whether a few additional acres can be added to either the existing Pratum or Central Howell property to accommodate the new K-8 school.

If the bond is approved and the new K-8 school moves forward, the District would evaluate all options for properties no longer needed as schools. Decisions about their future use would occur after bond approval and would consider District needs, community interests, property value, and other potential uses or disposition options.