Maple Valley Schools eyeing possible bond to improve facilities

Following the request of some concerned community members, Maple Valley Public Schools is exploring options for a potential bond proposal to address facilities, technology and safety improvements within the district.

Michelle Falcon, interim superintendent of Maple Valley Public Schools, said a group of community leaders approached the Maple Valley Public Schools Board of Education in the spring about the need for physical improvements within the district. With those concerns in mind, the district has created a Facilities Improvement Team (FIT), made up of community members, board members, district staff as well as design and technology consultants, to analyze district needs that could be addressed through a bond proposal.

“We are very early in the planning process,” Falcon said. “The planning phase is really about planning out what the scope of this project looks like.”

The FIT committee has met just a couple times and hopes to have the scope of the improvement plan to present to the school board by its scheduled Dec. 19 meeting. At that point, the board will have an idea of the types of improvements, including potential costs, the committee feels is necessary to accomplish improvements to district facilities, an upgrade to technology and enhanced security measures at each school.

If the board approves the plan, Falcon said a few members of the steering committee will meet with the State Treasury Department to get approval of the ballot language. Falcon said the committee has targeted the May 6 election for a bond proposal vote.

“We’re not looking at new builds,” Falcon said. “We’re focused on renovating some of our physical facilities. The goal is to improve the learning environments for our children. This bond will really emphasize security with better entryways for a more secure environment for students.”

The FIT team invited community members on a bus tour of the district’s facilities on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The next step is an assessment and prioritization of needs, which is scheduled for Nov. 26.

For more information, visit MapleValley.Kingscott.com.