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NEWPORT — Newport School District officials will not publicly address their failed proposal for a $46.3 million bond until this fall.
After seeing the February election results, the Newport School District Board initially planned to at least discuss the bond at their March meeting but decided to push any discussion or action to September or October. This decision was influenced by inflation, Superintendent Dave Smith said, referencing increases in gas prices due to the war in Iran.
“There’s just a lot going on this spring,” Smith said.
Estimated at a rate of $1.89 per $1,000 in assessed property value for up to 23 years, the bond failed 1,526-1,305 in February, with only 46.10% approving. To pass, the bond required a supermajority approval of at least 60%. Upon approval, the state was expected to contribute an additional $17.7 million.
The bond would have mainly funded the modernization of Newport High School, which is now 45 years old. In addition to replacing roofing and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, renovations were proposed to core facility areas such as classrooms, laboratories, commons and the gymnasium and locker rooms. The construction of an auxiliary gym and improvements to some outdoor areas were also proposed.
“We’ve got some other things to focus on,” Smith said. “Gives us a chance to step back and see what’s going on.”
With the end of this school year approaching, district officials are preparing for graduation, planning summer school and looking at budgeting and staffing for next school year, Smith said.
Moreover, construction has been ongoing at Newport High School since March. The district is renovating the practice field behind Newport High School. Smith referred to it as an original field, as no work had been performed on it since Newport High School was built 45 years ago.
“It’s really beginning to be a safety hazard with all the rolls and the bumps,” Smith said. A large portion of the field was also unusable because of a slope.
Besides leveling off much of the field, the district is adding new soil and installing a new sprinkler system. The old one did not cover the field properly, Smith said.
By renovating the field, the district will have space for not just a football field, but also another soccer field. Currently, the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams practice on the field by Stratton Elementary School, meaning younger players cannot practice until after 5:30 p.m. when those teams leave.
“It’ll also open it up for games and POSA soccer in the spring,” Smith said.
“So, it’ll be a nice addition.” The district is mostly funding the renovation with donations and a Turfgrass Maintenance Grant from the Washington Turfgrass Seed Association.
While Smith said he could not provide a funding total, the Washington Turfgrass Seed Association awards grants of up to $10,000 for one-time natural turfgrass maintenance projects like this one, according to a news release. Volunteer laborers are assisting the district with the renovation as well.
Smith said the district aims to seed the field in the first or second week of May, readying it for practices in August.
“Very minimal district money’s being spent on this,” Smith said. “Which is really nice.”
He once again thanked voters for their support of the district’s Educational Programs and Operations levy, which passed 1,5981,241 in February. As approved by voters, a new portable for the district’s alternative Home Link program was delivered in March and will be in operation by the end of April.
