District approves $150 million bond for May ballot

Posted March 2, 2022

By Tristan Hansen

Staff Editor

The David Douglas School Board approved a $150 million bond measure Feb, 10 for the May 2022 ballot.

The bond measure was crafted and approved by the David Douglas Bond Development Committee, composed of students, parents, community partners, district staff, and board members. The committee held five meetings—three virtually and two in person—with the bond measure proposal being approved during the final meeting on Dec. 13, 2021. The Bond Development committee presented their proposal to the School Board on Jan. 13, who then held a workshop on the topic on Jan. 27 and approved it for the May 17, 2022 ballot on Feb. 10. It was approved by a unanimous vote.

The bond construction projects the district intends to pursue were influenced by the Long Range Facility Plan (LRFP) the district created in collaboration with DLR Group Architecture & Planning and finalized in late 2020. Among other things, the LRFP emphasizes the need for a new elementary school to accommodate future growth and prevent overcrowding at the elementary level, recommends up to $189 million in “critical capital improvements” that prioritize health and safety, and the eventual replacement of DDHS’ North and South buildings, which were constructed in 1954-55 and have since become outdated.

The bond measure totals about $150 million and would allocate $54 million for “critical capital improvements," $55 million for the construction of a new elementary school on district-owned property at NE 102nd and Pacific, and $42 million for a new technology center at the DDHS South Building as the first stage of its replacement. Critical capital improvements would include renovations, upgraded HVAC systems, window replacements, a new sewer system, electrical and plumbing upgrades, and upgraded alarm systems.

If voter approved, the district would be authorized to issue general obligation bonds to pay for the proposed projects. General obligation bonds are essentially loans that must be repaid over time using revenue from local property taxes. They require the approval of the residents of the district and cannot be used to cover operating costs or salaries, only large-scale projects. Property taxes would increase by an estimated $0.82 per thousand dollars of assessed property value. The district would also be awarded $8 million in state funds.

During the process of considering the measure the district conducted a survey, held between Jan. 24-27 to determine support among potential voters in the district. Four hundred likely voters were surveyed by telephone, with 61% indicating they would vote for the bond measure and 31% indicating they would vote against it. 8% were undecided at the time of the survey. Among current district parents 82% support the measure. Furthermore, 49% of those surveyed were found to have a net negative perception of school facilities, compared to 36% who have a net positive perception. 69% and 67% of people also indicated they’re satisfied with how the district spends money and with how the district has handled Covid, respectively. Voters previously approved a $50 million bond measure in 2012, which was used to construct the high school’s aquatic center, expand existing elementary schools, and make other investments in the district.