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2024 Bond » 2024 Bond Overview

2024 Bond Overview

bond 2024 graphicWapato Public Schools is seeking voter approval of a $33-million bond funding proposal to replace three aging schools in the district.  If approved by Wapato School District voters, the bond money would be used to replace Camas and Satus Elementary Schools and PACE High School.

These facilities have been used for decades to educate generations of Wapato students.

 

Exterior of Satus Elementary      Exterior of Camas Elementary      Exterior of PACE High School

Satus was built in 1948.  Camas was built in 1952.  PACE High School is nearly 90-years old.  It was built in 1936.

The ages of these buildings’ present challenges in terms of safety and security.  For example, each of them lack a secure area at their main entries to prevent someone coming through the door from gaining access to the main building. Additonally, PACE has an open campus concept which results in multiple points of entry to classrooms and forces students outside to transition from class to class. 

All three buildings are challenged by mounting maintenance issues associated with infustructure like heating/cooling systems and plumbing.  Satus is in need of updated controls for its HVAC system at an estimated cost of $60,000.  District maintenance staff are having to manufacture parts to keep the PACE boiler functioning because new parts are no longer available.

Ultimately the decision on this bond proposal is a matter of community choice.  You can find an abundant amount of information about the proposal by scrolling down this page and by clicking on each of the menu items in the panel to the left if you are using a desktop computer or below if you are using a mobile device.  We invite our community to review this information and engage in discussions with District leaders about this proposal as a way to educate and inform your vote.

Prior to election day the District will be hosting three community bond information forums.  Please join us for one of these three opportunities to learn more about the bond, the projects, and to get answers to questions you may have about the proposal..
 

Bond Information Community Forums

Wednesday, December 13
PACE High School
6:00 p.m.
 
Tuesday, January 23
Camas Elementary School
6:00 p.m.
 
Wednesday, February 7
Satus Elementary School
6:00 p.m.  
 
The bond proposal will appear on the February 13, 2024 ballot.
2024 Bond Facts graphic
students holding certificates
 
Total Bond Amount:
  $33-million
Estimated Tax Rate:
  $1.72 (per $1,000 assessed property value)
 
Bond Projects:
Replace Camas and Satus Elementary Schools with a one, new, larger school building. It will serve kindergarten through 5th grade students. It will also house the District's early learning program which includes the WELCOME Preschool for 3-year-old students and the Transitional Kindergarten program for 4-year-old students.
 
Replace PACE High School, complete with a gym and space for enhanced career readiness programs.  PACE was built in 1936 and has supported nearly 90-years of student achievement. A 2022 survey by an independent architect and engineer of all schools in the district showed the condition of PACE scored the worst of all facilities and will only deteriorate further with time.
 
  • Of the $33-million bond, an estimated $26.7-million would be used for the elementary school project and an estimated $6.3-million would be used for the PACE High School project.
  • Input from community members, parents, teachers and other staff was instrumental in developing the bond amount and projects list.
  • The bond proposal will appear on the February 13, 2024 ballot.  Since this is a construction bond, it will need a 60% super-majority of "YES" votes to pass.
  • The bond rate to taxpayers would not begin until 2025 and will cost taxpayers an estimated $1.72 per $1,000 of assessed property value. (example: for a home valued at $225,000, the cost would be around $32.25 per month)  All the money would stay in the community and be used to support safer schools, career readiness and healthy learning spaces.
  • With an approved bond the District would be eligible for approximately $27.4-million in state school construction assistance money for the replacement of Camas/Satus and PACE.  The state assistance would cover more than 45% of the total cost of the two projects.  Taxpayers do not have to pay back the state assistance.
  • Of the estimated $27.4-million in state school construction assistance money, approximately $21-million would be used for the elementary school project and approximately $6.4-million would be used for the PACE High School project.
  • Mail-in ballots for the February 13, 2024 election will begin arriving in mailboxes the week of January 22, 2024.  Once you have voted your ballot you can mail it it back to the Yakima County elections department or you can drop it in any of the ballot dropboxes available throughout the county.  In Wapato there is a dropbox located behind the Wapato Branch of Yakima Valley Libraries found off of 3rd Street.  If you return your ballot by mail it needs to be postmarked by February 13, 2024.