Trustees take action to approve the district facilities bond option to appear on November’s General Election ballot

At tonight’s regular board meeting, the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25’s Board of Trustees took action to approve a motion to adopt the District Facilities Bond Option A, which includes renovating Highland High School on the existing site with significant enhancements. The bond would also include adding an improved gym facility at Century High School. The motion passed in a 3-2 vote.

The next steps include meeting with the design and construction team and consulting with bond counsel to finalize the bond language and terms. That information is forthcoming and will be released upon finalization.

More information about Scenario A can be located in this Future Planning document located on the district’s website.

WHAT IS A BOND? Bonds for school projects are very similar to a mortgage on a home. Issuing debt in bonds is a way that school districts can obtain the resources necessary for large and expensive capital improvements such as new school construction, renovations, and purchasing property for future schools. Just like other borrowers, school districts borrow money and make payments—usually annually. Bonds help supplement state and federal dollars with property taxes. General obligation bonds are authorized by voters through a bond election and require a supermajority to pass (66.67%).

WHAT DO BONDS PAY FOR? Bonds pay for major capital improvements, like building a new school or renovating/remodeling an old building. PCSD 25’s most recent bond was voter-approved in 1997 to help fund the construction of Century High School and the new gym at Pocatello High School.

WHEN WILL AN ELECTION BE HELD? The bond measure will potentially be on the ballot on: Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

Since a fire partially destroyed Highland High School on April 21, the district has been working diligently to meet the goal to return learners and staff home to Highland High School with a traditional schedule for the new school year. The fire was ruled accidental and is a covered loss by the district’s insurance carrier. Highland staff and learners will return to the school to kick off the 2023-2024 school year on Wednesday, August 23.