Ahead of schedule and under budget are two things you would not normally associate with construction projects being handled by public agencies.

But that’s exactly what the Marysville School District has been able to accomplish with the two schools built with the funding from the bond approved in 2006. The new Grove Elementary was opened one year early and completed under budget, and the new Marysville-Getchell High School is on schedule to be completed one year early and also under budget.

Now, the district is going back to the voters and asking them to approve a new bond and a replacement levy in the Feb. 9 special election.

Bonds are for Building

On the Feb. 9 ballot there will be a $78 million bond issue which the district hopes to use to replace its three oldest schools – Liberty and Cascade elementaries, and Marysville Middle School. All three schools are nearly 60 years old and suffer from a variety of problems that negatively impact students and learning.

The bond would also make basic repairs at the M-PHS pool, address health and safety needs district wide and replace the technology bond.

Levies are for Learning

Also on the Feb. 9 ballot will be a $21 million levy request which would pay for athletics, substitute teachers, transportation, special education, text books, salaries and staff positions not funded by the state. If the levy is not approved by the voters, the district would lose 20 percent of it’s budget.

With the down economy, some voters may be reticent to approve a new bond or replacement levy fearing it would increase their taxes. But it is important to note that even if both the bond and levy issue pass, taxes will go down. That’s right, taxes will go down – an average of $48 per year for the owner of a $300,000 home.

The district has done everything we have asked, and more, with the last bond and levy. We believe they will do the same if voters approved the Feb. 9 bond and levy, therefore we urge you to show your support for our schools and their students by voting Yes on the Feb.. 9 bond and the levy.

Scott Frank is the Managing Editor of The Marysville Globe and Arlington Times and can be reached at 360-659-1300 or sfrank@marysvilleglobe.com.