The Bainbridge school district is in the happy position of deciding what to do with $876,000 in surplus money from the 2006 construction bond.
The district could essentially give the money back in the form of slightly lower taxes or it could put it toward last year’s $42 million bond. A third option (which appears to be favored by district staff) would be to put the money toward equipment purchases.
A meeting to gather public input is being planned.
Read more HERE.
Support for the Bainbridge school bond inched up in unofficial election tallies released Wednesday night.
Needing 60 percent approval to pass, the bond had 60.19 percent on election night. By Wednesday, the bond was up to 60.41.
A nearly identical bond failed by .02 percent in May.
Updated vote totals are expected today at 5 p.m.
Based on the talk at the last Bainbridge school board meeting, a new bond is a sure thing for the November ballot.
The price will be the same and so will the goals: replace Wilkes Elementary and renovate several other buildings.
Check out my story on the proposed bond here.
Also discussed at the meeting were the reduced staffing for the upcoming school year.
Certified staff (teachers, counselors, etc.) were 257 last year. Next year: 249.5
Classified staff (bus drivers, groundskeepers, food service workers) were 132 last year. Next year: 127.
The bond failed by a hair.
The final vote tally for the Bainbridge Island School District’s $42 million capital bond showed it .2 percent shy of the of the 60 percent it needed to pass.
A Tuesday afternoon election report from the Kitsap County Auditor’s office showed that only a handful of “yes” votes – perhaps 50 – would have edged the bond (which earned 59.8 percent) to victory.
More than 9,500 ballots were cast in the election.
It’s unlikely school leaders will call for a recount. Campaign chair Clif McKenzie told the Sun last week that a recount would probably not be worth the nearly $2,500 it would cost.
School officials are considering a similar measure for the November ballot.
With the Bainbridge school district’s capital bond coming 65 votes short of passage (as of last count), supporters are considering possible next steps.
One option is to ask for a recount, which would cost bond supporters about $2,500.
Another option is to try a new bond, possibly on November’s ballot.
Read more here.
The Bainbridge Island School District’s capital facilities bond was 65 votes shy of passing, according to the Kitsap County Auditor’s elections update today.
Approval of the $42 million bond edged up slightly to 59.73 percent of the vote, auditor elections officials reported today at 4 p.m. The measure needs 60 percent to pass.
Military and overseas ballots continue to trickle in. The auditor’s elections office received and counted 29 overseas ballots today, and a few more are expected in the coming days.
Elections officials said 77 Bainbridge ballots are undergoing review before they’re counted. Most have signature discrepancies.
Elections supervisor Dolores Gilmore doubted the few remaining votes will turn the election.
“It’s hard to tell when there’s just a handful,” she said. “It would have to be a lot (of ‘yes’ votes). I don’t know if there’s enough left.”
The auditor’s office will release its next elections update on Friday.
At last count, the island’s change-of-government measure was holding on to a decisive win with 69.7 percent of the vote.
With much of the 2006 bond spent, the Bainbridge school district is looking to refill its capital budget with a new bond this spring.
The ’06 bond passed with strong support. Despite the ailing economy, school officials say now is the right time to seek $42 million to help build a new Wilkes Elementary and repair several school buildings.
Read my story here.
The district will host three meetings about the bond next month. Here’s the schedule:
March 5, 10 a.m., Bainbridge Public Library conference room. This meeting is geared for pre-school parents.
March 11, 7 p.m., Bainbridge High School library in the new 200 Building.
March 18, 10:15 a.m., Bainbridge senior center on Brien Drive.
For more information, contact district community relations coordinator Pam Keyes, pkeyes@bainbridge.wednet.edu or (206) 780-1398.
