Cayuse Prairie seeks OK for new gym

Two million dollars might sound like a lot of money to build an elementary school gym, but officials at Cayuse Prairie School say that building now could save taxpayers nearly $1.2 million.

Cayuse Prairie is asking voters in the district to approve a $1.95 million bond issue to build a new gymnasium and performing arts center at the school.

Thanks to one-time-only stimulus money through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the district will save almost $1.2 million in interest on the bonds over 15 years.

The savings are possible thanks to a Qualified School Construction Bond grant, district clerk Heather Mumby said. The grant provides 0 to 1 percent interest on the bonds, she explained.

If voters approve the bond request, annual property taxes on a home with a $100,000 taxable value would increase by about $54.

Taxes on houses with a $200,000 taxable value would go up by about $107 a year.

Cayuse Prairie expects to mail ballots Oct. 20.

School districts often opt to conduct bond elections by mail because there is no minimum turnout requirement. Typical bond elections require at least a 30 percent voter turnout; to pass a bond request with a simple majority requires 40 percent turnout.

Ballots are due back to the district office by Nov. 10.

The last time Cayuse Prairie ran a bond election was in 1994, when voters approved a $525,000 request. That money built the school's north wing, which houses fifth- through eighth-grade classrooms.

The new bond issue will build a 7,818-square-foot gym and performing arts center and restrooms in the lower elementary hallway. It also will build additional parking around the new gym.

Current gym space is inadequate and unsafe, Principal Rick Nadeau said.

Christmas programs are performed in shifts because there isn't room for all the students, their parents and community members in the audience. Even with two performances, not everyone can fit in the gym, leaving some audience members craning to see from the foyer.

There is little room outside the basketball court, which makes games unsafe, school board Chairman Brad Cronk said. Spectators' legs are on the court, so players and referees have to be careful not to trip. The low roof sometimes makes volleyball games challenging.

Nadeau said Cayuse Prairie has been talking about building a new gym at least since he joined the staff 19 years ago. The tipping point for several school officials, including Cronk, was the zero- or low-interest loan, Nadeau said.

"If we're waiting for the stars to align, I guess this is it," he said. "We have more buying power for our dollar this time."

"What it basically came down to was cost," Mumby agreed. "We might get more bang for our buck, so to speak."

The district hopes that there might even be money left over to build classrooms in preparation for future development around Cayuse Prairie, Cronk said. And by not asking for the largest bond the district can handle, the school would be able to ask voters to approve another bond if a construction emergency arises in the next few years.

The district's bonding capacity is a little more than $3 million, Mumby said. Cayuse Prairie currently is debt-free.

In the last several years, the district, which Cronk described as "fairly conservative," has helped the school without going into debt. Community members have helped pay for and install playground equipment, a fence and sidewalks, all without raising taxes in the district, Cronk said.

He said he hopes voters will realize the district wouldn't ask them to approve the bonds unless they were sure it was the right thing to do.

"It's never been an issue of not having a need," Cronk said. "We're trying to provide a quality educational facility for our students."

If voters approve the bond issue, the district would open the project for bid in early 2010, Nadeau said. He anticipated breaking ground at the end of the school year, to cause the least disruption possible for students.

Construction probably would take about a year, he added.

The completed gym would be available for community use.

The school likely will host at least two informational meetings before the election, Nadeau said. For additional information about the bond request, call the school at 756-4560.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com