Why Did the School Bond Fail? Community Potluck Brings Out Answers

Good food, good talk, good schools, all a part of the Orcas Island School Board's Bond Community Potluck last night.

Last night, the Orcas High School Commons was filled with a lively group discussing their viewpoints on the Orcas Island School District (OISD)Bond for Reconstruction and Repairs, which recently failed by about a 120-vote margin.

The Bond, which was for $35 million over a 25-year period, was described by many in attendance on March 10 as “just too big.”

Following a community potluck of hamburgers, veggie burgers, juice and “trimmings,” and numerous dishes brought in by guests, the Orcas Island School District Board, Superintendent, teachers, students, parents, architects, builders and other members of the public discussed what were identified as 4 critical questions, summarized as follows:

1) What concerns have you heard from those who did not vote for the bond?
2) What have you heard that would make those who voted no vote in favor of the bond the next time?
3) What questions do you have about the bond?
4) What will get people more involved in the discussion about the bond?

These questions were discussed around each of the tables where 10-12 community members sat. The entire group then heard from each table, and the concerns expressed in their answers were summarized by School Board Member Janet Brownell:

• The Bond is for too much money, especially now
• The Bond includes “wishes” as well as needs — some of the “extras” were enumerated as a track and indirect and contingency costs
• “Breaking Up” the Bond into 2 or several bonds would provide better timing and reduced expense for a construction bond
• Neighborhood groups and increased Internet presence would involve more in the discussion, as would theparticipation of teachers and students.

Brownell added that “trust issues” were also aired, particularly in the areas of sustained maintenance and the commitment to employ local builders.

The OISD Board has scheduled a meeting at 5:30 p.m. today, March 11, to discuss plans to move forward. They will consider both the timing and the amount of a future bond proposition. The meeting is open to the public, in the school library.

Board Member Keith Whitaker described the process of proposing a bond, saying, “The Board listens and responds. This bond was not the board’s agenda, but was put together after [the public] gave educational specifications of what we were told was needed…. This was a plan we heard from concerned community members.

“We will continue to do what the community asks us to do.”

Whitaker also added that some of the concerns have already been addressed, such as a Community Advisory Board for School Construction, which the Board is “committed to make happen in short order.”

People in attendance were reminded that the last time the District went out for a smaller-sized bond for capital construction after a larger bond had failed, (1978) the results were cost “savings” on materials and design that wound up costing more in terms of long-term sustainability.

Local builder Justin Paulsen corrected OISD Board Member Tony Ghazel’s reference to the Middle School Buildings as “not being built to today’s standards.” Paulsen said, “They weren’t built to yesterday’s standards either.”

Ghazel agreed with the correction and said, “In 1978, we got what we paid for — as we go forward, we will make sure we get what we pay for. We can only move forward.”