Vancouver schools to consider measure for updates

VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) — This fall, the Vancouver Public School board will consider a bond to pay for building new schools.

Part of the motivation to build new schools comes from the need for buildings to meet earthquake safety criteria. Earlier in July, The Seattle Times reported that Washington State does little to protect students against natural disasters.

The newspaper, analyzing state data, also reports that more than 31,000 students attend schools that are in or near tsunami danger zones.

However Washington doesn’t mandate seismic evaluations or upgrades of school buildings and doesn’t keep an inventory of unsafe schools. In Washington, local school districts must raise their own funds before the state contributes money, creating disparities in school safety between wealthy and poor districts.

According to Amanda Richter with Vancouver Public Schools’ communications office, most schools there have been replaced or upgraded recently. If voters approved the bond measure, the remaining schools could also be upgraded.

It’s not just for earthquake safety that officials want those schools to be upgraded.

Truman Elementary, built in 1970, has an open floor plan. It was popular in education at the time, but today is out of date. Outdated computer wiring, science labs and even bathrooms in buildings are also in need of replacement.

Taxpayers in Clark County have consistently voted “yes” when it comes to school bond measures and they need 60% approval.

The District hasn’t decided yet how much this bond would cost homeowners. If the school board approves the measure, it will be on the ballot in February.