East Valley bond failing

As of the latest count Wednesday, the East Valley School District construction bond was failing, with 60.71 percent of voters rejecting it. The $33.75 million bond would have renovated and improved Trentwood, East Farms, Otis Orchards, Skyview and Trent elementary schools and would have added 40 new classrooms and four new gyms. The district offices and the maintenance department would move to East Valley Middle School. That middle school building would also house a middle-level enrichment center and all buildings would receive a technology upgrade. Despite the apparent failure, “the same issues still exist,” said Superintendent John Glenewinkel. He said the vote sends a strong message that the plan was not what voters wanted, but he encouraged those against the bond to stay involved in the process to help the district move forward. The school board will hold a special meeting 9 a.m. Thursday to discuss the bond outcome and their next steps. Glenewinkel also addressed the election outcome in his newsletter, which came out Wednesday afternoon. “We must now change course. As a district with no capital funds to draw on, we are forced to use general fund monies to meet the day-to-day maintenance needs of our buildings. We spend $185 per student per year more to operate our buildings than the average spent by the 27 school districts that are similar in size to us. We are also operating all but two of our buildings at well under their student capacity.”