They have a goal, to present a bond issue to voters in February. Now, the Snoqualmie Valley School Board needs to finalize the details of that bond, and they have about a month to do it.

When the board met Thursday, Aug. 21, Superintendent Joel Aune reminded the group that he and staff had been asked to develop a timeline for a February bond proposition, which they presented July 9. He went over some of the critical deadlines involved, saying “To move toward a February bond proposition… the latest that we feel would be reasonable for the board to make a formal decision around the bond proposition, would be around the first of October.”

Board President Geoff Doy said he expected the formal bond action would be taken at the Oct. 9 meeting, but emphasized that there was a lot of work to be done in the meantime.

“If we’re going to run anything in February, the work has to start now,” Doy told the board. “Tonight is the night where we’ve got to move forward.”

Aune’s timeline called on the board to define the scope of the bond in September, in order to move forward with a resolution in October and then to start the voter education and bond campaign. The actual deadline to submit a bond resolution to King County Elections is Dec. 26, so there is room for “flexing” things, both he and Doy said.

Board members have debated the merits and flaws of various bond proposals for more than a year. One much-discussed possibility is a comprehensive $225 million issue that would, over eight years, build a new elementary school, remodel Mount Si High School and turn the district’s Freshman Campus building into a middle school. Another is a stand-alone $130 million bond for immediate needs—new elementary and middle schools, and repairs throughout the district.

Doy asked each board member to comment on the options and list their concerns, prioritized, so that Aune could address them in his next steps. The concerns centered on the high cost of the comprehensive bond and the perceived lack of teacher support that it has, as well as the dwindling capacity at the elementary and middle schools.

Marci Busby felt that voters should be given the choice of two bonds, one for an elementary school, and another for the other needs listed in the comprehensive bond. That ballot would show the board which needs people supported, she said, adding “If it’s the right proposal for the secondary schools, then it would stand alone.”

Doy responded that multiple bond measures on a single ballot have historically meant failure for at least one of the measures.

Several board members commented that they were encouraged by responses to the May 28 to June 2 survey. Results showed that support for the more expensive, comprehensive bond was about 57 percent, with a margin of error of 4.9 percent. To pass, a bond requires 60 percent voter approval.

Aune planned to send board members a written response to their concerns, and said the board would review enrollment numbers in September, as he recommended in July. Work to engage and build support within the teaching staff will start up again now that school has started.

As presented, the bond timeline shows the school board finalizing the bond details and cost in September, with a cost review in October and the start of a citizens campaign in November. Ballots for the Feb. 10 election will be mailed Jan. 23.