SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Public Schools is asking voters to approve a $200 million bond to replace and renovate a few schools. Right now, returns show roughly 55% of voters are in favor of Proposition 2.
However, bonds need 60% approval in order to pass, so at this point, it's not meeting that threshold. The dream of a new school building may have to wait a little longer.
"We actually have our new school designed and ready to go," Adams Elementary school principal Beth Nye said.
The latest results prove to be a disappointing reality for Nye.
"When the bond results came in, obviously, that was shocking," Nye said. "Not quite what we wanted, and disappointing."
Adams Elementary is the oldest school on Spokane's South Hill. Spokane Public Schools $200 million bond would replace the entire school this summer.
"We're going to have to continue to educate our children in this current building," Nye said. "And this is a building that has some pretty high needs."
With the bond, the district plans to demolish the current school building and build a new one by early 2026. "We have blind corners just with old stairwells, as well as brick that's falling apart," Nye said.
Not only are the bricks crumbling, but the building also doesn't have an elevator, which doesn't make it ADA compliant. "With the bond failing, I do feel a lot of disappointment, especially here at Adams," paraeducator Patti Martell-Dennie said.
Based on initial election results, this could be the first time in 50 years that voters did not approve an SPS bond.
"I was very hopeful that it would," Martell-Dennie said. "A little bit surprised that it didn't."
One silver lining is the passing of the levy, which is just as important.
"I'm very thankful that the levy passed. That helps ensure that I keep my job and we have important things for our students," Martell-Dennie said.
If the bond passes, Madison Elementary will also be replaced.
The school district said the school board could look into other options at its next meeting. The board could decide and when and how to run the bond again. April is the earliest the bond could return.
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