If the bond is approved, what is the timeline for project completion and how much does each project cost?

Cascade View Elementary replacement - Fall 2023 (proposed project cost - $68.6 million)

Cathcart Elementary replacement - Fall 2023 (proposed project cost - $68.9 million)

Dutch Hill Elementary replacement - Fall 2023 (proposed project cost - $72 million)

Seattle Hill Elementary replacement - Fall 2023 (proposed project cost - $69 million)

Emerson Elementary replacement - Fall 2025 (proposed project cost - $71 million)

Totem Falls Elementary replacement - Fall 2026 (proposed project cost - $77.3 million)

Central Primary Center renovation/early learning center - Fall 2026 (proposed project cost - $13.7 million)

Maintenance/Transportation - Fall 2027 (proposed project cost - $10.55 million)

District-wide safety and security - Would begin immediately (proposed project cost - $4 million)

Additional projects (finish dates to be determined)

• AIM High School/Parkway Campus renovation - Fall 2025 (proposed project cost - $4.85 million)
• Glacier Peak High School classroom addition - Fall 2025 (proposed project cost - $10.1 million)

Additional projects by priority (pending funding)

• Glacier Peak High School food service equipment
• Upgrade elementary play fields
• Upgrade secondary softball/baseball fields
• Veterans Memorial Stadium
• Replace aging artificial fields

How will investing in our facilities improve instruction?
These new facilities will include:

• Safe and modern classroom spaces that are conducive to collaboration, cognitive engagement, and purposeful instruction
• Flexible spaces to provide more individualized instruction and support
• Improved air quality, air circulation and filtering
• Controlled room comfort (temperature, lighting and acoustics)
• Better utilization of outdoor light
• Ergonomic furniture that encourages movement and arrangement options
• Separate physical education and lunchroom spaces
• Enhanced safety and security provisions (fewer entries, single building)

New facilities will replace portables which are not only smaller in size, but may compromise safety, limit teacher collaboration, limit class configurations and limit access to student services.

New facilities will be designed to enhance longevity, optimize life-cycle and operational costs and promote ease of maintenance. New facilities don’t require frequent repairs that disrupt classroom instruction. Utility costs per square foot are lower..

How long would it take to construct the proposed schools?
The proposed construction timeline for each of the facilities is about 20-24 months. The entire process (design, permitting, etc.) may take an additional 12 months. 

How large would the elementary schools be?
Each of the proposed elementary schools would be built according to the district's educational specifications (about 600 students).

Previous construction projects, especially those from the 2008 bond, included important environmentally friendly aspects. What were some of them and will they be included in these proposed projects?
We were fortunate that in 2008, the positive bid climate enabled the district to boost its capital projects program. Lower construction costs enabled us to make wise investments in our future. We were able to incorporate sustainable systems, such as geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels and natural lighting and ventilation systems in many of the new and remodeled facilities (Snohomish High School, Valley View Middle School, Centennial Middle School, Riverview Elementary and Machias Elementary). Not only do these capital investments save our district operation dollars and lower the operating costs supported by the general fund, but they have inspired new relationships between our students and the environment. We anticipate installing these systems in future projects.

The new buildings would be larger in size... doesn't that mean increased utility costs for the district?
In fact, the opposite is true. Our older schools are incredibly inefficient when it comes to utility costs. Below are two examples from 2018-2019:

• Little Cedars Elementary is 81,447 square feet as compared to Seattle Hill Elementary at 53,143 square feet. Little Cedars Elementary is about 28,304 square feet larger. Although there is a size difference, the utility costs (gas and electricity) between the two schools were virtually the same - Little Cedars Elementary at $46,931 and Seattle Hill Elementary at $46,795.
• Machias Elementary is 78,137 square feet, and Dutch Hill Elementary is 44,747 square feet (difference of 33,930). Utility costs are significantly different relative to size. Machias Elementary utiliity costs (gas and electricity) were $39,625 compared to Dutch Hill Elementary at $43,608. Machias Elementary is larger and its utility cost was $3,982 less. 

Will the elementary schools that are being replaced have separate physical education and lunchroom spaces such as those at Little Cedars Elementary, Riverview Elementary and Machias Elementary?
The six elementary schools will be replaced with separate physical education and lunchroom spaces. These separate spaces would be available for community use.

Would Cathcart Elementary be moved to a new location?
The Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee recommended that Cathcart Elementary be moved to a more central location in the Clearview area. If that is not possible within the schedule, the school would be replaced on its present site. The school district has no plans to sell the property.

December 2019 update: After exploring the option of moving Cathcart farther north, the current thinking is Cathcart Elementary could be rebuilt on its current school site. If the bond measure passes, the new school will likely take a year to design the school and get permits. Construction would take an additional two years. The Cathcart Elementary campus has almost 14 acres of land, and the district believes there is room to construct a new school and keep learning in the existing Cathcart Elementary at the same time. 

Why is it proposed that Central Primary Center and Emerson Elementary be combined?
Our district's educational standards are K-6. Combining these two facilities also eliminates unnecessary transitions for students moving from 2nd to 3rd grade.

Why is there a need to build at Glacier Peak High School?
Due to state standards that students graduate with 24 credits, there is an increased need at Glacier Peak High School for classroom space. Glacier Peak High School currently houses eight portable classrooms. With the proposed new construction, those classrooms would become integrated with the existing school building.