$62 million bond package would fund school projects in Washington town

Voters in the Washington town of Deer Park are being asked to approve a $62 million bond measure to build an elementary school and a transportation center. The projects will increase safety and security while providing space to maintain smaller class sizes. The state will provide $23 million in matching funds. The bond election is scheduled for Feb. 13.

If approved, the Deer Park School District (DPSD) would use $49 million to build an elementary school, serving second through fifth grade, to replace the existing campus – Arcadia Elementary. Arcadia Elementary currently uses three portable facilities adjacent to the main building to support six classrooms. DPSD will build the replacement elementary school to the east of Deer Park Elementary.

After migrating students to the new elementary school, DPISD would use $13 million to renovate Arcadia Elementary for the school’s Home Link program. Additions would include more offices and space for weights, dance classes, stained glass, survival classes and other activities.

The district would use another $13 million renovate and modernize the middle school, as well as $6 million to build a transportation facility. The bond would support updating technology and infrastructure, including HVAC systems, across all schools and the transportation center.

A separate measure will ask voters to renew the Educational Programs and Operations Renewal (EP&O) Levy to cover the school’s daily operational costs. The levy – which is renewed every three years – would support safety, security, staffing and STEM education.

The last bond election was in 2008, where Deer Park residents voted to renovate the high school. The city is located 22 miles north of Spokane.

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