School Board To Place Bond Proposition Before Voters

Last evening by a vote of 4-1, the Mercer Island School Board voted to place a $196,275,000 bond proposition before voters on April 17, 2012 to modernize and expand our current facilities. Facilities master planning commenced in 2008 with an engineering study of our buildings and a demographic study, which projected that Mercer Island schools will absorb an additional 800+ students by the beginning of the next decade. Recently a board committee, the 21CFPC, made recommendations to the board following a year of study.

The bond proposition, if successful, will accomplish the following:

Rebuild a new Islander Middle School on the south campus
Rebuild three (3) new elementary schools
Expand classroom spaces at the high school, including the addition of additional science labs (6-12 classroom expansion)
Stadium renovations (new pressbox; concession area; bathrooms; roof overhang; seating)
Invest in extending the life of Mary Wayte Pool 10-15 more years
Complete master planning of the mega-block (MIHS campus; Administration and Crest; bus lot; and north mercer buildings)
Acquire a site for School # 6, which will allow for flexibility as we rebuild schools and house students

The superintendent will be forming a staff committee at the elementary and middle school levels right away. This team will work with architects to develop educational specifications for our new schools. A high school team will be formed shortly thereafter.