BCSD refers to state for improvements for VVE

BONNERS FERRY — The Boundary County School Board is asking the state on how to repair Valley View Elementary, rather than going for a bond or plant facility levy.

The decision at the Jan. 23 school board meeting follows a recommendation by the district’s facilities committee.

Before the meeting, the committee was faced with three choices: leave the school as is, run a plant facility levy or run a bond. The committee chose none of the options, instead recommending the district talk to state officials.

BCSD Trustee Niki Weaver said the committee didn’t think leaving the school without repairs was an option, due to the potential for a catastrophic failure.

Among recent problems at Valley View were, during the week of Oct. 17, 2022, sinks in the girls bathroom backed up into the floor drain, and spilled across the bathroom floor. Replacing the pipe was one of the many issues that was to be addressed in the proposed school bond to replace the school. The bond failed twice, the first time in March and again in August.

BCSD Superintendent Jan Bayer has frequently said that if there was a catastrophic incident at Valley View, such as plumbing issues that would cause the school to close, VVE students would be moved to the Boundary County Middle School. This would result in middle school students being moved to the high school and double shifting would return with both schools sharing the BFHS facility.

Weaver said leaving the school without repairs was “not an option.”

She said if improvements alone were made to the school without building for growth or adding a second gym or more classrooms, the quoted cost was $8.1 million two years ago. Prices have risen since then.

To improve the facility over time, Bayer said the facility committee didn’t think it wise or a good investment of taxpayer dollars to invest in the school as is.

A bond option was for $18 million, for 20 years, with 3.09% as the latest interest rate. This would cost $56 per $100,000 and needed 66 2/3 percent of votes to pass.

Another option, a plant facility levy would require $20-22 million, over a six-year period. This would cost $162 per $100,000 collecting $3.7 million annually and only require 55% of votes to pass.

The facility committee agreed that both funding options were too expensive and that most taxpayers would be paying three times more than before.

“The bond has failed twice, at this point we are wasting time,” said BCSD Trustee Teresa Rae.

The best decision is to go back to the state and ask what should be done, she said.

Also at the Jan. 23 meeting, the board discussed improvements to the Bonners Ferry High School bleachers and complex.

At this time, the district needs to get plans approved.

BCSD officials said the district has the ability to leverage community support and material donations for the structure, but first they need the structural plans and to go out to bid.

The bleachers will be ADA compliant, including a sidewalk. District officials were concerned with having anyone in the press box, due to the structure being around 50 years old. The bleachers have been there even longer and might have been erected by the National Guard.

By board vote, Ron McDonald was retained as chair of the board and Teresa Rae remains vice-chair.

For more information on BCSD, visit www.bcsd101.com.