Frequently Asked Questions Freeman Construction Bond May 2008 ABOUT THE BOND What will the proposed construction bond fund? On May 20, Freeman School District citizens will vote on a $19.5 million construction bond to renovate and expand the district s existing elementary and high school buildings and to make campus wide safety improvements. The proposed bond will address the district s most urgent needs, upgrading aging building infrastructure and improving security to provide a safe, healthy learning environment. Why run the bond now? The Freeman School District Board of Directors has decided it is necessary to ask voters to consider a construction bond in May 2008 for several reasons. District taxpayers are currently paying $.91 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the middle school bond, which will be paid off in December 2008. This expiring debt, coupled with favorable interest rates means the impact to taxpayers of assuming more debt can be minimized. In addition, Freeman is paying more from the general fund each year to maintain aging and failing building infrastructure and facilities. This has a direct and negative impact on student learning. School construction costs have increased dramatically in the past several years. These costs will continue to escalate which will only make the project more expensive in the future. Our kids are safe, what difference would a new school make? Student safety is a top concern in Freeman schools. Although we do our best to keep students safe, the reality is that our buildings are not up to current code in a number of areas including the fire alarm system, emergency lighting and no fire sprinkler system. In addition, the configuration of our schools means students are traveling outside between buildings throughout the school day, creating safety concerns. These safety issues and others will be addressed with the approval of the proposed construction bond. Who decided that we need to modernize our schools? The Freeman School Board made the decision to seek voter approval to modernize our schools. Last spring, the board held community forums in Rockford, Valleyford and Hangman to hear from the community regarding facility needs. After gathering this input, the board authorized the district to conduct a Study and Survey of district facilities. The Study and Survey was fully funded by the state and included an on site evaluation by structural, electrical and mechanical engineers and architects. These professionals assessed district facilities and made recommendations to the School Board. In the fall, three more community forums were held to discuss the information learned from the Study and Survey and to ask for direction regarding a construction bond. The community recommended that the district move forward with a bond to modernize and expand the high school and elementary school and improve campus wide safety and security. After considering the recommendations of the Study and Survey and community input, the Board decided to seek approval for a construction bond to fund the needed upgrades. Will the upgraded facilities be more energy efficient? Yes. The state requires that all new and modernized school buildings be built to meet energy efficiency standards (sometimes called green buildings). With energy efficient buildings, the district will pursue every energy rebate possible to maximize taxpayer investment in our schools. Replacing the aging heating, ventilation and electrical systems as well as installing energy efficient windows, doors, lighting and insulation is expected to nearly double efficiency. The district could realize annual energy savings of $50,000 to $75,000 each year.
What does it mean to modernize a school? When a school building is modernized, it means when you walk in you will feel like you re in a new school. Although the newest portions of Freeman elementary and high school (added on in 1989) will be saved, much of what you can t see (heating, ventilation, electrical systems) will be modernized. Each school building will also be brought up to current safety codes and educational standards. What if the bond isn t approved? We will run it again although the cost may well be higher than $19.5 million. In the meantime, more money would be diverted from the general education fund to make repairs. When Freeman voters last considered a construction bond in May 2005, the price was $11.5 million for a very similar plan. ABOUT PROJECT COSTS How much is this going to cost? The total project cost is $30.0 million. Due to the age and condition of Freeman s school buildings, the state will fund approximately $10.5 million, leaving a balance of $19.5 million which is the amount of the construction bond on the May 2008 ballot. Freeman School District taxpayers are currently paying $.91 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the middle school bond which will expire in December 2008. Although the district has structured the proposed bond not to exceed $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, with the expiring debt of the middle school, the net impact to Freeman taxpayers of the proposed 20 year bond will be an increase of $1.59 per $1,000 in the current tax rate. This tax rate is expected to decrease when taxes are collected, as the number of property owners and property values in the Freeman School District continue to increase. What is the breakdown of the total project cost? The total project cost of $30.0 million includes $17.2 million for the modernization and expansion of the high school, $9.75 million for the modernization and expansion of the elementary school, $2.5 million for campus improvements, $400,000 to cover the cost of temporary classrooms needed to house students during the construction and $150,000 for middle school work to move the district office out of the school and convert the space into classrooms. Of the total project cost, approximately $10.5 million will be paid by the state, leaving a balance of $19.5 million to be funded by local taxpayers, if the May 2008 construction bond reaches the 60% voter approval needed to pass. How much is the district eligible to pass with the bond issue? Is the district asking voters for the full amount or taking a more modest approach and doing only what is necessary? The district s current bonding capacity is $22 million. The proposed bond is asking voters to approve $19.5 million. The district is taking a conservative, practical approach to meeting the needs of students now and into the future. The project will modernize and expand Freeman High School and Elementary School while retaining the 1989 facilities additions to both schools. The project was developed with substantial input from community members, staff and a team of engineers and architects to propose doing what is absolutely necessary to serve Freeman students. Through this process, Freeman has received $50,000 of donated pennant lighting products from a local business which will be used in the elementary school. Why is the cost to modernize the high school more than the elementary school? Freeman High School was originally built in 1957 (with additions in 1977, 1980 and 1989) and is the older of the two buildings. Current educational standards for high school students include the need for specially equipped classrooms including science labs, music and art rooms, shops for vocational education and special education classes. The entire high school building must be made handicap accessible and brought up to code. The high school building is larger than the elementary because older students are physically larger and require more 2
space. The total cost to modernize the high school is budgeted at $17.2 million. The total cost to modernize the elementary school is $9.75 million. How much will the state pay Freeman for these construction projects? The state contribution is expected to be about $10.5 million. This would cover about 35% of the total project costs. The district will not receive state construction funds unless voters approve the bond. How does this bond proposal compare to the most recent bond in 2005? The scope of the current $19.5 million bond proposal is very similar to the $11.5 million proposal presented to voters in 2005. The current bond proposes slightly larger facilities than the 2005 bond. The buildings have continued to age and the needs have become greater. In addition, construction costs, including concrete, steel, copper and petroleum products have risen dramatically. ABOUT THE TIMELINE What is the project timeline and process? The high school project will be completed first, followed by the elementary school with campus wide safety improvements taking place throughout the three year time frame. Once construction on the high school begins, it will take 16 months to complete with anticipated opening in Fall 2010. Construction of the renovated elementary school will take 12 months with expected completion for Fall 2011. With voter approval of the construction bond in May 2008, the district will immediately begin the four step construction process. Step one is the development of educational specifications with input from staff and community members. This is the phase where the details of interior spaces (storage, classroom configuration, etc.) are developed. Step two is design, where architects and engineers will take the educational specifications and complete the detailed school design. Once the designs are completed and approved by the School Board, the project will be put out to bid, followed by the fourth step, construction. This four step process will occur first for the high school project, followed by the elementary school project. Campus wide improvements will be planned and constructed throughout the three year project timeline. The district will hire an independent project construction manager to oversee the entire process. This individual s number one priority will be to ensure the district s interests are followed and the projects are completed on time and within budget. Why is the high school project first, then the elementary? The high school is the oldest building with the greatest needs. It is also the more expensive of the two projects and is important to complete first, in order to save money as construction costs continue to escalate. The high school will take longer to complete than the elementary school and can be started immediately after the bond is passed, using the summer months to begin specifications followed by design and bidding with high school construction beginning in spring 2009. The state will fund a portion of the cost and these funds will become available early in the construction phase of the high school, allowing the district to maximize the use of the state funding first before tapping into bond dollars. ABOUT STUDENT LEARNING How will the proposed improvements enhance student learning and increase the educational opportunities for our students? Student learning will be improved in many ways throughout the school district. The project plans include construction of classrooms and learning spaces to meet current educational standards. High school students will enjoy expanded class offerings due to additional classroom space and science students will learn in a classroom with adequate ventilation, acid free drains and work surfaces, fire suppression and ventilation hoods. We will build quiet, private spaces for elementary students who are pulled out of class for specialized instruction and testing. These students will no longer be asked to learn in distracting environments such as hallways and supply 3
closets. All students will learn in a comfortable, safe and healthy environment where room temperatures remain constant, fresh air is cycled through each classroom and noise is minimized. And, fire suppression and security systems will be installed to enhance student safety. Where would our students be housed during construction? All Freeman students would remain on campus. The district will bring in temporary classrooms during the project and modify existing space within our schools to house students displaced by construction. It will be hard and there will be complaints, but the end result will be renovated classrooms and schools providing a safe, healthy learning environment. How much money from our general fund are we spending to maintain aging facilities and systems each year, instead of spending the money on student learning? Freeman School District currently spends $50,000 to $60,000 each year to patch up and repair aging facilities and infrastructure. This includes leaking roofs, crumbling parking lots, broken pipes and electrical issues. These monies come from the district s general fund which is also the district s funding source for books, supplies and teachers. ABOUT PROJECT PLANNING How did the district involve the community in the project planning process? Over the past year, the district involved the community in six forums plus numerous School Board meetings where they could give their comments. Going forward, there will continue to be opportunities for interested community members to get involved in the process. District administration and board members are always interested in hearing from district patrons and community members by phone, e mail or in person. Why aren t we doing anything to the middle school? Freeman Middle School is 17 years old and is not eligible for state construction funds for modernization, at this time. The middle school is our newest building and is in the best shape. It was built to last about 30 years. However, the bond proposal does include minor modifications to the middle school to move the district administration office out of the ground floor and turn the space into classrooms (currently housed outside in a portable). What can be saved? Do you really need to tear it all down? The district is taking a practical, cost effective approach to this project. Everything that can be saved will be saved in the modernization of the two schools. The project calls for an extensive renovation of the high school and elementary buildings. This means we will use the existing footprint of each building and will use any structural parts that can be used, rather than tearing the entire building down. For example, at the high school we will keep and upgrade the newest building additions (1989) including the science room, several classrooms and the B gym (new location of the Vo Ag shop). We will also retain and modernize the main high school gym for use as the school s second gym. At the elementary school, we will keep the pod classrooms added on in 1989 and the structure of the elementary gym, which will be enlarged to include spectator seating. The proposed bond calls for an extensive renovation of Freeman High School and Elementary School. We are not building two new schools. How will the bond address safety concerns in the elementary school? The safety and emergency systems in the elementary school are outdated. The bond will bring these systems up to current code, including the installation of fire sprinklers, modern smoke detectors, emergency lighting, electrical systems, emergency exits and handicap accessibility. Additional safety concerns addressed by the bond include relocating the school office for better visibility of the school s front doors, eliminating exterior doors into 4
classrooms and constructing a new multi purpose room located between the elementary and middle school. This new multi purpose room will serve as a barrier between the playground and parking lot and will be used as cafeteria, common area and performing arts space, allowing full use of the elementary gym for PE classes throughout the school day. This new multi purpose room would also be available for community meetings and activities after school hours. Why aren t the plans more specific? How big will the windows and classrooms be? At this point in the process, we have conceptual drawings and floor plans for both schools and the campus wide improvements. The district does not yet have funding to complete the detailed designs including the size of the classrooms and windows. This would come after the bond is passed and funding becomes available. The schools and classrooms will be designed to meet all state and local requirements for safety and energy efficiency. How does the district s overall square footage with respect to the number of students compare to other districts? Does Freeman need additional square footage? Freeman is right in line with other school districts in terms of the overall square footage per student. The proposed construction bond includes additional square footage for students who are currently housed outside school buildings in portable classrooms, as well as space for educators to provide specialized instruction to students individually and in small groups. Why replace perfectly good buildings? Over the years, Freeman staff has worked hard to keep our school buildings in good shape and help to create a sense of community pride. However, you only need to peel back the first layer to see that the high school, Vo Ag building and elementary school need extensive work. This is supported by the results of the Study and Survey which gathered input from the School Board, staff, community and a team of professionals to assess the condition of all Freeman facilities. The proposed construction bond will modernize these facilities, bringing the buildings up to current standards and safety codes. The 1989 addition to the high school and elementary schools will be retained and upgraded. The Vo Ag building behind the high school will be updated and continue to provide value as the new home to the district s maintenance facility and vehicles. Isn t moving the Vo Ag shop into the main school building with all the chemicals, propellants and equipment dangerous to the rest of the school? Does the fire department know about this? We would never do anything to endanger the safety of our students and staff. Most high schools now house vocational and technical programs inside the main school building because students are considered safer inside one building rather than traveling outside between buildings. The safety issues related to chemicals and equipment will be addressed through current school construction standards. The state s fire marshal approves all school plans for safety prior to construction. Why does the high school need two gyms? Modern high schools are designed with two gyms to meet student and community needs. Freeman s gyms are heavily used by community groups and teams for practices and games throughout most of the year. When Freeman High School is modernized, the bleachers in the present A gym must be brought into ADA compliance to make them accessible for individuals with disabilities. This will create a significant loss of seating capacity. The proposed project includes the construction of a new A gym which will be ADA compliant and large enough to accommodate seating capacity for about 1,200. ABOUT CAMPUS WIDE IMPROVEMENTS How will the project improve safety for students walking between schools and crossing Jackson Road? Many students cross Jackson Road each day to travel between the elementary, middle and high schools, creating a critical safety issue. As part of campus wide improvements proposed in the bond, Freeman will work 5
with Spokane County to create a pedestrian walkway under Jackson Road, similar to the underpass connecting Silverwood to its parking area in North Idaho. In addition, expanded classroom capacity in the high school will allow students currently attending classes in the portable building across Jackson Road to move inside the main high school building. Why move the bus garage? The proposed construction bond will move only the bus storage area from its current location behind the high school to a new location across Jackson Road. Relocating the bus storage area will enhance student safety by allowing access to buses in the event of a high school lockdown. Currently, buses stored behind the high school are inaccessible in the case of a lockdown or an emergency evacuation, leaving students stranded and the district without a way to evacuate students. The transportation buildings behind the high school will remain intact and in full use to service our bus fleet. Only the bus storage area will be moved. How will the bus garage and outbuildings behind the high school be used? The bus garage and outbuildings behind the high school which service our bus fleet will continue in their current use. The hoist, wash bay, shop and fuel tanks will stay where they are to service our bus fleet. The only change is that buses will be stored across Jackson Road for easy access to evacuate students in the event of a lockdown or other emergency. The Vo Ag building will receive minor modernization and will be put to good use as a storage facility for maintenance vehicles and equipment. How will the project improve district water flow and storage? State and county regulations are requiring significant upgrades to Freeman s water system. The construction bond includes plans for the installation of larger water tanks, access to additional wells and improved water pressure to provide adequate fire suppression. Currently, if a fire were to erupt the current system could not provide the water quantity or pressure needed to fight the fire. ABOUT THE FUTURE What about growth? Where will Freeman be in 10 years? Will these schools have enough room? It is hard to predict how much Freeman will grow. What we do know is that there will be growth and we will use choice students to manage our growth. Choice students are those who transfer in to Freeman from neighboring school districts but do not live in the Freeman district. As Freeman becomes crowded in a particular grade level, that grade level is closed to choice students and we would begin asking choice students to return to their resident district. The proposed construction bond includes expanded classroom space. This will allow us to bring all the elementary and high school students who are currently housed outside in portables, into the main school building. We believe the proposed construction bond will meet our current and projected enrollment levels for the foreseeable future. How are you evaluating the future facilities needs of the district? This is an ongoing process involving the School Board and community. We recently completed the Study and Survey and are now addressing the immediate needs identified in this document modernizing and expanding the elementary and high school buildings and making improvements to campus wide safety. How will the community benefit from this project? Schools belong to the community and are an integral part of the social network. Freeman schools are heavily used by our students and community for a variety of activities. This project will benefit the community by improving and expanding the capabilities of the elementary and high school to hold performing arts events, athletic events and offer ample and accessible seating. And, this project will help maintain the property values for Freeman School District residents. 6
What assurances do we have that bond funds will be spent as requested? Now in his second year as superintendent, Sergio Hernandez and the School Board will continue to seek community input throughout the construction process. Sergio has an open door policy. Community members are encouraged to attend School Board meetings and ask questions. In addition, the district intends to contract with a construction project manager with a proven track record to ensure the project is completed on time and budget, spending the money as taxpayers have intended. ABOUT CHOICE STUDENTS How many choice students attend Freeman schools? Aren t we overcrowded because of them? Why bring them in? We presently have 158 choice students, fairly evenly scattered across grades K 12. These are students who have transferred into Freeman from neighboring school districts but do not live in the Freeman district. We also have 68 students who have transferred out of Freeman. The law requires us to consider all choice requests. We can only reject under very specific guidelines and do reject some students based on their past discipline record or special education needs. We leave a 10 percent buffer in each grade level to allow for students moving into the district during the school year. For every student that choices into the district we receive approximately $5,500 in state funding. This additional income allows us to reduce class sizes in the elementary school and offer additional course offerings at the middle and high school. It also allows us to manage our growth. Choice students must apply every year. If a grade level fills up, choice students return to their home district. This year, we turned away 11 choice students. Are we doing these renovations to make room for choice kids? No. The proposed modernization of Freeman High School and Elementary School will address critical infrastructure issues that are costing the district more every year to maintain. In many cases, equipment has outlived its useful life and replacement parts can no longer be purchased. In addition, a number of safety and security issues will be addressed through the renovations to provide a safe, healthy learning environment for Freeman students. If we eliminate choice students at Freeman, what would the impact be? The district accepts choice students as a strategy to increase revenue and manage growth. Accepting choice students creates a revenue stream which allows the district to have smaller elementary class sizes and offer more educational programs in the middle and high school. If Freeman were to eliminate all choice students, the district would experience an $868,000 drop in revenue (about 11% of 2007/08 budget) and be forced to eliminate staff and educational programs at all levels. ABOUT TAXES Is there an exemption for senior citizens or those who are disabled? Yes. In Spokane County, senior citizens (age 62+) and disabled citizens with a total annual income of less than $35,000 may be eligible for a residential property tax exemption. More information is available through the Spokane County Assessor s Office at 477 5754 or visit www.spokanecounty.org/assessor. If my assessed property value goes up, does the school get more money? No. Rising property values do not increase the property taxes collected for schools. Once voters approve a dollar amount, it becomes the maximum that can be collected, regardless of changes in assessed property value. By law, Spokane County will only collect $19.5 million on behalf of Freeman School District. 7
Does the school district collect more money if more homes are built in the district? No. Voters approve a fixed dollar amount for school bonds and levies. This is the maximum amount that can be collected and is shared by all taxpayers in the district. When more homes are built, there are more taxpayers to share the fixed amount. This means the tax rate decreases because the tax base of the district is larger. For more information, visit www.spokanecounty.org/assessor. ABOUT THE ELECTION When is the election? Where do I vote? Freeman s construction bond will appear on the May 20, 2008 ballot. Spokane County now conducts all elections through mail in ballots. Voters in the Freeman School District will receive their ballots in the mail around May 1, 2008. Completed ballots must be postmarked by May 20, 2008 to be counted. Ballot drop off boxes are located in all Spokane County and City of Spokane public libraries. What is the approval margin needed to pass this bond? At least 60% of voters who cast their ballot must approve the construction bond for it to pass. In November 2007, voters in Washington State approved a decrease in the approval rate needed to pass school levies to 50%. This change does not apply to school construction bonds, which still require 60% voter approval to pass. What is the difference between a bond and a levy? A school bond pays for capital projects such as new construction or renovating existing buildings. A school levy funds a portion of day to day operating expenses of a public school district including text books, school staff, transportation, technology and educational programming. Washington State does not fully fund the maintenance and operations of school districts. Local taxpayers fund the gap between what the state provides and what the district needs to educate kids through levies. How do I register to vote? Voter registration is open to anyone who is a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older and has lived in Washington State for 30 days or longer. If you have recently moved or changed your name, you must notify the Spokane County Elections Office in order to receive your ballot. Voter registration forms are available in the offices of all Freeman District Schools. You can also register online at www.spokanecounty.org by clicking the online voter registration button in the upper right hand corner. For more information about the May 2008 Freeman Construction Bond, visit www.freemansd.org or call the district office at 291 3695. 8
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