SPOKANE, Wash.- Madison Elementary School is almost 75 years old, and would have been one of the schools torn down and rebuilt had a Spokane Public Schools bond been passed. Now that the election data has come out and the bond has failed, administrators will have to decide how to proceed.
Heather Holter, Principal of Madison Elementary, has worked for nine years in the oldest school on the northside of Spokane. After the bond that would have rebuilt her school failed to pass, she still had a glass half full mentality.
“We are sad that the bond didn’t pass, but we are more happy to be able to say to you today that our continued sports programs and extracurricular activities and staffing will stay. I know the school board really cares about all of our students and families, I know they will be meeting, and I know they will be looking at what is next for us,” Holter said.
People who opposed the bond, including Spokane resident Wayne Binkley, feel as if they are being taxed too much without seeing results within the school system.
“I just think the money is going to the wrong places, it’s all about education it’s not about million-dollar stadiums, brand new schools, I just think that the school board has gotten so spoiled with these taxes, it’s like why not, they don’t care,” Binkley said.
According to the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, less than half of students in the district met national average in reading, math and science last year.
Madison elementary, however, has the second highest Lexia reading scores in the district. Holter thanks the work of her teachers for this outcome.
“Our Lexia data is showing that kids are doing well because my teachers are continuing to work really hard so our students can grow. And we will continue to do that,” Holter said.
Moving forward, Binkley says that he won’t vote yes for a bond until he sees some changes made.
“I won’t vote yes until I see some fiscal responsibility. I want to retire in four or five years, and I can’t because of taxes, school taxes every time you turn around,” Binkley said.
Holter says that in light of the bond, she believes the district will still provide for their school.
“That might be some continued repairs, or some creative ideas in what we’re able to serve our families. Cause I know our district is all about kids first,” Holter said.
The Spokane School District school board will meet Wednesday February 21st to discuss the next steps for the district. This could include voting to put the bond back on a later ballot such as the April special election. This would need to be decided by the school board at the meeting on the 21st in order to make that a possibility.
