Building a Strong Future for Puyallup Schools: Bond Advisory Committee Tackles Tough Decisions on Proposed Projects

As the Bond Advisory Committee (BAC) approaches its final recommendation deadline, its recent discussions focused on addressing the district's urgent needs to relieve overcrowded schools, replace aging facilities, and accommodate projected growth in the Puyallup School District. With a comprehensive project list provided by the 2021 Citizens Facility Advisory Committee exceeding $1 billion, the committee now faces the challenging task of prioritizing projects that can feasibly be funded by a $800 million bond measure or less, aiming to maintain the district's tax rate at $4.14 per $1,000 of assessed property value. This decision, if pursued, would be presented to the school board on November 18 and considered for school board approval on December 9.  

Meeting Recap and Key Considerations  

The fourth BAC meeting opened with a review of prior sessions, focusing on projects in regions 2 and 3 and recent discussions about high-priority projects for both Rogers and Puyallup High Schools (RHS and PHS). Both schools were identified as needing extensive upgrades, partly to eliminate temporary portable classrooms that have become increasingly necessary as student populations grow.  

Enrollment Growth and Capacity Issues in Region 3

A critical area of focus was Puyallup High School, which currently uses 13 portable classrooms, with projections indicating a need for up to 19 by 2031-32. Given the space constraints from the closure of the library science building the district is in the process of adding 6 more portable classrooms before year end.  BAC members discussed potential capacity increases at PHS and other local elementary schools like Spinning Elementary and Waller Road, where the facilities show significant wear and may need rebuilding to support the district's goals.

Spinning Elementary, nestled in the heart of downtown Puyallup, faces critical structural and functional challenges. Built decades ago, and last renovated in 1985, this institution has a Building Conditions Assessment score of 40.5, the lowest among district schools. This score underscores the urgent need for an overhaul to bring Spinning up to current standards for quality building conditions. Notable issues include deteriorating brickwork, an aging roof, and an outdated HVAC system that relies on specially ordered filters. The building's infrastructure no longer meets the demands of modern education, impacting Spinning's ability to serve students effectively.

An updated or newly constructed Spinning Elementary could alleviate pressure on neighboring schools like Meeker, Stewart, and Shaw Road, which rely on portables to manage overcrowding. Brian Devereux, Director of Facility Planning, emphasized how a more extensive, updated Spinning facility would enhance educational environments and provide much-needed relief to surrounding schools, supporting the broader Puyallup educational community.

Walker High School serves as a non-traditional education center for the district. Yet, its current building and site improvements fall short of meeting the program's needs for classroom space, athletics, and core facilities such as the commons and library. Built in 1986, the existing structure includes five classroom spaces, a multi-purpose room, and 13 portable classrooms, some of which are nearing the end of their useful life. Additionally, the old North Puyallup Elementary School primarily supports the student population. The permanent building is eligible for State match modernization funding, and the proposed plan includes a classroom addition on the west side of the parking lot. This addition will feature new science labs, Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces, general education classrooms, personal training facilities, a sports court, and a commons area. Major modernization of the existing building is planned for the third planning period.

 

Addressing Long-Term Facility Needs

The committee's discussion also explored Region 3 schools, including Waller Road and Mountain View Elementary, where similar challenges reflect broader district-wide infrastructure needs.

Waller Road Elementary stands out as the district's only school in a rural designated area and is uniquely positioned along a busy road at the borders of two other school districts. Additionally, it sits on a significant right-of-way. It is located within the Puyallup Tribal Reservation, an aspect the community emphasized as they expressed their call for greater equity in facility improvements.   The proposed project, if approved, would include constructing a new two-story facility at the rear of the existing property, featuring modern amenities and expanded parking to enhance accessibility and student safety.

Waller Road Principal John Huson [provided staff insights on equity and inclusion, safety, , capacity, program space, and infrastructure concerns to share with the Bond Advisory Committee. The Waller Road team highlighted their notable growth and student successes, achieved despite the challenges of working in a building over 80 years old. This input underscored the dedication of Waller Road's staff and the pressing need for facility improvements to support students and teachers in reaching their full potential.

Anticipated growth in the North Hill area has led to a proposal for a larger-capacity replacement of Mountain View Elementary. While most of this growth will occur within the Northwood Elementary boundary, the 2024 School Capacity and Utilization Committee has recommended expanding Mountain View alongside a boundary adjustment to relieve capacity pressures at Northwood. Building a new facility for 550 students would allow the district to adjust boundaries and manage future enrollment increases, especially given Northwood's projected growth over the next decade. Notably, North Hill elementary schools operate on a K-5 model rather than K-6, with 6th graders attending Edgemont Junior High. Despite the absence of sixth-grade students, capacity concerns are still expected to rise across North Hill elementary schools.

 

Planning for Future High Schools

On Wednesday, October 24, the Bond Advisory Committee shared its Question of the Week: "Would you support a phased regional transition from the current 10-12 high school model to a 9-12 model, starting with one high school catchment area?" The community's firm response encouraged committee leaders to outline three scenarios for potentially transitioning from the current junior high (7-9) and high school (10-12) structure to a middle school (6-8) and high school (9-12) format.

The first scenario would involve upgrading all three existing high schools—Puyallup, Rogers, and Emerald Ridge—to accommodate 2,400 students each. This approach would increase capacity at each school to address crowding across the district. A second option focuses on expanding Emerald Ridge High School to 2,400 students. In comparison, Puyallup and Rogers would remain at their current capacity of 1,800 students each. Alternatively, a fourth high school could be added near 144th and Hunt Avenue to serve up to 1,800 students, bringing the district to four comprehensive high schools of equal size. This new high school would also support a shift to the middle school-high school structure, alleviating crowding while providing students with modern learning facilities aligned with 21st-century standards.

Project Prioritization

A main component of Meeting #4 was reviewing cost estimates and determining which projects could be funded under various scenarios. BAC members were asked to consider four possible project funding packages, each requiring significant prioritization to meet the $800 million target or suggest alternatives. Members were encouraged to weigh options based on community equity, long-term district growth, and potential state matching funds.

Several committee members emphasized balancing large-scale high school projects with the urgent elementary and middle school requirements. They pointed out that focusing solely on high school expansions could overlook significant needs in younger grades, which are foundational in student development. By creating a diverse project list that addresses the specific challenges at each educational level, the district can ensure a more comprehensive approach to improving educational facilities.

This comprehensive strategy would enhance learning environments for high school students and foster success in elementary and middle school students, preparing them for the challenges ahead. Members argued that investing in infrastructure improvements across all schools would promote equity and provide every student access to modern facilities, resources, and programs that enhance their educational experience. A well-rounded project list would contribute to a more equitable educational landscape, supporting student success and well-being throughout their academic journey.

 

Financial Feasibility

In February 2024, voters approved a $175 million Capital Levy, which means they agreed to pay a certain amount of money over six years to help fund important projects in our schools. The Bond Advisory Committee is considering a plan to refinance part of that levy into a bond package. This means they want to combine some of the money from the levy with new bonds to get the funds needed for projects more quickly.

When we talk about payments in this scenario, we can consider two payments or one payment.

One Payment Scenario: If we only used the Capital Levy money without refinancing it, we would wait longer to have the total funds available for all the life cycle projects. This would mean we could only start projects after receiving the total amount over several years. But, if voters approve a $800 million bond and a $130 million levy roll-back, the $670 million would be available for new construction. We would immediately access $130 million for overdue life cycle levy improvement projects. In the refinancing plan, we can combine the bond and levy funds, making the money available sooner while maintaining the tax rate.

Here is how it works:

• We would collect one year of levy funding ($44 million) to begin improvements.
• If a bond is approved, we will roll the subsequent years into it, paying it back over 21 years instead of six. This would give the district immediate access to $670 million needed for new construction and $130 million for levy projects instead of waiting several years for all the levy money.

Even though we would be rolling back the levy dollars, that does not mean the projects go away. The district is committed to completing all 906 projects that the voters approved. So, whether we have one payment or two, those projects will still happen.

Refinancing the Capital Levy into the bond package enables us to start projects sooner. It allows for payment in two steps rather than waiting for one large payment later. This approach ensures that our schools receive the necessary upgrades without delay.

Next Steps and Community Engagement

As BAC prepares to make a final recommendation, members emphasized the need to communicate clearly with the community regarding the bond's potential impacts on the district. The upcoming Patron Tour on November 5 offers another chance for community members to see the facilities firsthand and provide input on the direction of the bond measure. Additionally, responses from the community's Question of the Week survey on the district website and social media will continue to be reviewed as part of BAC's ongoing effort to align with community priorities.

The BAC will meet once more on November 7, when members will finalize their recommendations to the school board. The decision to include specific projects in the final bond proposal will impact the district's physical landscape and shape the educational experiences of Puyallup students for years to come.

Community members interested in staying updated can visit the District's Bond Advisory Committee Questions and Answers webpage or attend future school board meetings as the process unfolds.

Resources for Community Learning 

• BAC meeting presentation and learning resources: https://www.puyallupsd.org/about-us/departments/capital-projects/community-participation/bond-advisory-committee 
• Question of the Week: https://www.puyallupsd.org/about-us/departments/capital-projects/community-participation/bond-advisory-committee/bond-advisory-committee-qa 
• Tour our schools: https://www.puyallupsd.org/about-us/superintendents-office/patron-tours
• Understanding public school funding: https://www.puyallupsd.org/about-us/departments/capital-projects/capital-budget/public-school-funding 
• Understanding Levy Funding: https://www.puyallupsd.org/about-us/departments/capital-projects/contact-us/story-detail/~board/news/post/understanding-levy-funding-how-taxpayer-contributions-drive-school-projects 
• Building Condition Scores: https://www.puyallupsd.org/about-us/departments/capital-projects/contact-us/story-detail/~board/news/post/what-is-the-condition-of-your-childs-school 
• 2024 Capital Levy: https://www.puyallupsd.org/about-us/departments/capital-projects/2024-levy