The Port Angeles School District capital projects levy facing voters addresses the integrity of our aging schools.
Data cited on the physical evaluation of each school is from a January 2008 study and survey by BLRB Architects.
Stevens Middle School (built in 1960) had a physical evaluation rating of 33 percent.
Hamilton Elementary (1956) had a rating of 41.5 percent. Franklin Elementary (1956) had a rating of 55.4 percent.
The most recent upgrades occurring to these schools were in 1978.
The high school has 11 buildings which were built between 1953 and 1978.
The physical evaluation rating of these buildings ranged from 25.5 percent to 56.4 percent.
The 2015 bond to replace PAHS was rejected by citizens.
That bond included a hefty interest fee.
We now have an opportunity to fix these school buildings through a levy with no interest charges; every dollar goes toward the buildings.
The opponents say this is a 75 percent levy increase.
I see this as a separate levy addressing the condition of the buildings sheltering our students.
The opponents do not address the integrity of our school buildings.
They do suggest adding modular buildings, i.e. portables, as a cost-effective means to increase capacity at the schools.
The three questions I need to answer are (1) do these buildings adequately shelter our school children, (2) how long can they adequately shelter our children, and (3) how much more will it cost citizens if we continue to ignore the physical state of these school buildings?
I will be voting “yes” for this capital projects levy.
Donna Moreau,
Port Angeles