PORT ANGELES — In a shift from longstanding practice, Clallam County commissioners will publicly support school bonds and levies.
The three commissioners Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution backing the Sequim School District’s proposed construction bond that will appear on the Feb. 9 special election ballot.
The $54 million measure, if approved by voters, would pay for a new elementary school and other major improvements for the district’s aging and cramped facilities.
County commissioners have not taken official positions on school bonds and levies for the better part of a decade.
“We’ve left it up to individual commissioners representing those districts to write letters of support,” said Mike Chapman, longtime commissioner and board chairman.
“I wouldn’t say that either process is the right way to go, but state law did change where it makes it more difficult for individual elected officials to take individual support. So state law somewhat points us in a direction of taking public support.”
As such, Chapman predicted that future boards would back school bonds and levies as part of an economic development initiative.
“It would be difficult for the board to sit up here and say we’re all for economic development but not support strong schools,” Chapman said.
“But I also think it would be difficult for boards of commissioners to sit up here and evaluate particular ballot items. We could get bogged down, and that’s not going to be our business. That’s up to the local school boards.”
Commissioners should not “pick winners and losers” because every bond and levy is vetted and approved by a majority of an elected school board, Chapman said.
“Once a bond gets to the ballot, it’s a good idea,” he said.
“Whether the voters want to fund that good idea is always going to be up to the voters. And it’s probably not going to matter what the board of commissioners say.”
Public testimony
Commissioners received public testimony Tuesday from supporters of the Sequim construction bond for the second time in as many weeks.
If approved, the bond would be used to renovate and expand Greywolf Elementary, build a new elementary school, repurpose Helen Haller Elementary for alternative school uses, renovate and expand Sequim High School, demolish a Sequim Community School building and upgrade the district kitchen and maintenance facility.
The bond also would fund a new science wing of six laboratory classrooms at Sequim High and add band, orchestra and choir rooms to the performing arts wing.
Brandino Gibson, Citizens for Sequim Schools vice president, told commissioners that schools are a “focal point for a community.”
“This is not just a Sequim issue,” Gibson said.
“This is a community, county issue.”
If the levy passes, the estimated rate would be $2.16 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which is less than half of the state average of $4.54, Gibson said.
“That’s a pretty astounding statistic,” said Commissioner Mark Ozias, whose district includes the Sequim-Dungeness Valley.
Commissioner Bill Peach agreed that strong schools are important for economic development.
Voters in the Sequim School District nearly passed a $49.3 million construction bond that appeared on the Nov. 3 ballot. The measure failed by just 54 votes, with 59.6 percent of those in the Sequim School District voting yes.
School bonds require a 60 percent supermajority to pass.
Speaking as a citizen of the county, Port Angeles School Board member Sarah Methner testified in support of the Sequim school bond.
“These schools are old and they need to be fixed,” Methner said.
“We can compete better, we can attract new business, we can attract young professionals if we have the schools.”
The Sequim City Council unanimously supported the construction bond Monday.
For information about the bond proposal, including a fact sheet and dates for upcoming tours, visit the district’s website at www.sequimschools.wednet.edu.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Chris McDaniel contributed to this report.
