The Auburn School District Board of Directors has set a bond election for Tuesday, November 5. The bond will provide additional classrooms, improve safety and address critical systems. The bond amount is $532,100,000.

The proposed bond package will:

• Build Middle School #5 on the ASD property on Sumner-Tapps Highway E
• Replace Cascade Middle School on the ASD property on I St. NE and 40th St. NE (57-year-old building)
• Replace Alpac Elementary School on the current site (52-year-old building)
• Make facility improvements at 16 schools and six support buildings to address safety, security and critical systems

More than 40 ASD community members, parents and staff served on a 2023 citizens' committee.  The committee examined the district’s facilities, evaluated the need for new facilities and made recommendations to accommodate district facility needs for the next 10 years. After meeting for 12 weeks, the committee presented its highest priority projects to the board. 

Enrollment in the ASD continues to increase. The district currently uses 41 portables to accommodate middle school enrollment growth.

Old schools are costly to maintain and lack essential features of new schools. Auburn takes care of its facilities, but after more than 50 years, these schools divert money from the educational operating budget for repairs. 

The new and rebuilt schools will:

• Increase student safety
• Provide infrastructure for modern technology
• Better parking and access
• Have more energy efficient heating, cooling and lighting
• Reduce overcrowding at middle school levels

The planned facility improvements will reduce energy and operating costs, upgrade safety and security systems and address other critical systems. 

The projected tax rate for this bond is $0.81 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, or $37.13 per month on a $550,000 home. The total ASD tax rate on a $550,000 home, for all voter-approved bonds and levies is projected to be $252.54 per month or $3,030.50 on a $550,000 home. 

The Auburn School District is committed to providing students with the best environment for learning.  During the last eight years, the district built Bowman Creek Elementary and Willow Crest Elementary. The district razed and replaced Olympic Middle School, Chinook Elementary, Dick Scobee Elementary, Lea Hill Elementary, Pioneer Elementary and Terminal Park Elementary. All projects came in on-time, under-budget and are high-quality schools that will last for generations.

Election Day is November 5, 2024.

For more information, email 2024bond@auburn.wednet.edu
or call 253-931-4930.