The West Valley School District board discussed a long‑range facilities master plan presented by a community committee and directed the administration to proceed with two previously approved junior‑high projects while scheduling community forums to solicit broader input. Trustees also debated how much of the district’s remaining 2019 bond proceeds to “defease” (return or reallocate) before placing a new bond before voters.

Board direction on junior‑high projects: Superintendent Dr. Finch summarized the committee’s recommendations and reminded the board that two projects at the junior high — auditorium ADA compliance work and domestic water piping replacement — had earlier been placed on hold because of the question of whether the building would remain in district use. With the long‑range plan proposing continued use of the junior high (including repurposing for administration and preserving community assets such as the auditorium and gym), the board reached consensus to proceed with the previously approved auditorium ADA work and domestic water piping replacement. Members said they wanted to avoid escalating costs by delaying essential repairs. (The gym floor and curtain at junior high were discussed but the board noted those items would require a change to prior resolutions and additional public hearings before funds could be used.)

Discussion of remaining bond proceeds and defeasance: Board members reviewed estimates of the district’s remaining bond fund balance (figures cited in the discussion ranged around $11 million to $13 million depending on accounting assumptions). Trustees debated whether to defease $6 million — the figure advanced by some trustees as a public‑facing commitment — or to defease a larger amount (figures discussed included proposals up to roughly $9 million). Several trustees said defeasing an amount and publicly celebrating that return could help build community trust ahead of a new bond; others urged caution, noting that setting aside a modest “rainy day” balance in the capital projects fund (trustees discussed $1.5–$2.0 million as a target) would protect against cost escalation and unknowns.

Scheduling community forums and bond timing: Trustees asked administration to schedule community forums after school resumes; the board agreed to reserve September 16 as a primary forum date (with September 30 as a backup). Several members said February is a preferred month for a potential bond election because historical patterns favor voter turnout and passage rates in that cycle; trustees asked staff to produce analysis of tax‑rate impacts for different bond amortization lengths (20 vs. 25 years) and recommended the campaign messaging emphasize fiscal stewardship and the committee’s prioritized projects.

Parking, safety and interim measures: During public comment and board discussion, speakers and trustees noted recurring parking and pedestrian safety problems at the high school during large events. Board members asked administration to evaluate interim mitigation options, including using district buses as shuttles from overflow lots during major events; staff agreed to look into feasibility, costs and logistics.

Why it matters: The long‑range plan and the board’s next moves shape which capital projects proceed in the near term and how a future bond would be packaged and presented to voters. Board direction to proceed with the junior‑high ADA and piping work avoids additional delay on repairs while the community forums and defeasance messaging will shape public support for any new bond.

Next steps: Administration will: proceed with the approved junior‑high auditorium ADA and domestic water piping projects; schedule and promote community forums (Sept. 16 primary, Sept. 30 backup); return with detailed tax‑rate and amortization comparisons and a proposed defeasance resolution for formal board action at a future meeting.