September%2025_2024_Superintendent%E2%80%99s%20Report.pdf

Parent document: Regular Board Meeting-09-25-2024.pdf

Text

Superintendent's Report

Meridian School District
September 25, 2024, Regular Board Meeting

Dr. James Everett

MERIDIAN
SCHOOL
, DISTRICT
—_ leaning theXies here



DI STRI CT

Events & Presentations

» Whatcom County Superintendent's Mtg., Sept. 12

— Ferndale School District Office

» We discussed several items like the new discipline rules, a collective budget letter to our
communities and future speakers.

>» Much of our next meeting will be to examine and collectively develop the WCSC ILA

» NWESD189 Superintendent's Advisory Council, Sept. 13

- Anacortes ESD 189
» Presentation by Tim Garchow, WASA Member Services
» Examination of topics for speakers and experts to increase understanding
>» WASA Region 108 meeting to establish slate of component and committee members

» Representative Joe Timmons Mtg., Sept. 16

— Meridian School District Office
» Discussion about school funding shortfalls and increased student needs
» Updates on the Whatcom Early Learning Center & Whatcom County Skills Center



DISTRICT

Events & Presentations

» Meridian Middle School Tour w/ Cascadia Daily News, 9/18
— Meridian Middle School

» Visit and examine all aspects of Meridian Middle School > October release

>» Present to MHS AP Government Class, 9/19
- Meridian High School

» November 5 bond measure and school funding

» Whatcom Early Learning Center & Whatcom
County Skills Center fg Eq a =



MERIDIAN
SCHOOL
DISTRICT

» Steven Thomas, VP for Instruction, WCC Mtg., Sept. 20
— Meridian School District Office

» Topics include increasing access to courses at WCC and alignment with dual
credit coursework and skills center programming.

Events & Presentations

» Community Presentation Bond Projects and Finance, Sept. 24
— Meridian Middle School
» Hosted by Robert Kratzig and Jay Yeager

» Financial presentation by Daniel Yorton & Cory Plager
» Students provided tours of MMS



MERIDIAN

November 95 Capital Bond

Build a New
Meridian Middle School (5-8)

Originally constructed in 1938, Meridian Middle School is no longer able to
keep up with today's safety standards and the needs of modern education.
The school faces safety challenges including unconnected buildings,
exterior entrances, and non-reinforced concrete walls which lack rebar. A
new school would comply with modern safety codes, including seismic
requirements, and meet accessibility standards creating a safer space.
Energy-efficiency would be built into the design, ensuring comfortable
classrooms year-round that would improve student focus and learning.

Cost: $86.92 million

State match: -$16 millian ,
Bond Cost: $70.92 million vate
Numbers for cost and state match are estimates.

Timeline
Estimated timeline, if band is approved by voters.
Election Design Construction School Opens
Nov. 5, 20274 Dec. 7024- April 20276- Fall 2078

Jan. 2026 Aug. 2028



November 5 Capital Bond

MHS Performing MHS New MHS Stadium ;
Arts Center Generator Lighting and Repairs
Lighting installed in 1987

Beyond useful life expectancy
Some light fixtures do not work

e Built in 1991 ® Emergency power for the

« Needs anew roof office, library, main building,

| Masonry in need of CTE building, north gym and
repainting and resealing locker rooms during Poles are leaning and rotting
Move music room to old outages Existing stadium structure has
cafeteria to create closed « Provide emergency power rotting beams
campus to prevent freezing pipes « New roof needed

Bond Cost: $2.18 million Bond Cost: $400,000 Bond Cost: $1.50 million

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SWUM aceiciai’ scnoar pisvacr www.meridian.wednet.edu/bond/



Our Community is Growing

Our growing community means our school enrollment is increasing.
Meridian Middle School, currently designed for 380 students, will need

to accommodate nearly 500 by 2030. Irene Reither Elementary, with over
750 students, is projected to exceed 1,000 by 2028. To address this, we

would construct anew middle school for grades 5-8.

This approach, previously used
when Meridian Middle School
housed fifth graders from 1976- — 1200

1991, balances the K-12 1900 ; ‘ | - ft * , t

Irene Reither Elementary Enrollment Projections

ft

experience and relieves BOO
overcrowding at IRE. If voters mo
approve the bond, a design ne
committee will involve families, 6
students, staff, and community oe? ot dk dP og Ae oo fh ab
; ; or ao
members in the process. i i ee
“All amounts are estimates for at the time of construction.
Meridian Middle School (5-8) $86.92 million
Estimated State Match -$16 million
Performing Arts Center $2.18 million
Stadium and Lighting $1.50 million
MHS Generator $400,000

Total Bond Amount $75 million

Learn More

Looking for more information?
Visit our website at
wwiw.meridian.wednet.edu/bond/
or call 360-398-7111.

How to Vote

Voters within Meridian School
District will receive a ballot in the
mail in October to vote on the bond.
Ballots must be mailed and
postmarked, or retumed to a drop
box by 8 p.m. Mov. 5, 7024. Drop
box locations can be found on the
Whatcom County Auditor's website.

Tax Exemptions

Some senior citizens and people
with disabilities may be eligible for
property tax exemptions, visit:
whatcomcounty.us/177/ Assessor or
call 360-778-5050 to learn more.



November 5 Capital Bond

Financial Impact

The total bond cost of the projects is $75 million, if approved by
voters, the tax rate would increase by $1.28 per $1,000 of assessed
value (pee graphic right for example)

$550,000
263.25/month

$759/year

school distict combed bond and heyy rate por
of agaeaged value

MERIDIAN COOUMON Cri ves riers 7 F
Fs : Win ie a net.e
Tes MOERIDIAH SCHOOL DISTRICT ridian wed t edu/bond/



Upcoming Dates of Importance
» September 27 — NCCE Board Mtg., Coeur d'Alene, ID
» October 4 — First Waiver Day
» October 17-19 —Al Conference, Spokane
» October 21 — UW Fiscal Policy Convening, UW Campus
» October 21-22 — WSRMP Board Mtg., SeaTac

>» October 23-25 — P3 Institute, Vail, CO