Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Bond Measure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Citizens committee, administrators endorse single-project $7.9 million bond to replace Meridian middle school
Summary
A citizens committee and district staff recommended asking voters to approve a $7.9 million bond at an April 22, 2025 special election to fund a new Meridian middle school focused on safety, security and accessibility; the board held a first reading of the bond resolution and will consider a vote in early February.
A citizens committee and district officials urged the Meridian School District board to place a narrowly scoped $7.9 million general obligation bond on an April 22, 2025 special election ballot to fund a new Meridian middle school.
Sarah Bernardy, speaking for the Meridian Citizens for Education committee, said survey respondents prioritized the middle school over other previously proposed projects, and that 74% of the survey completers put the middle school first. “People understand why this is a need,” Bernardy said, citing safety, security and accessibility concerns at the existing building.
Robert Cig, a committee co-presenter, told the board the committee recommends focusing on that single project and leading community outreach and promotion ahead of the April election.
Administrators noted the draft resolution (identified in meeting materials as resolution 1-25) would authorize the district to seek up to $7.9 million in general-obligation bonds and to pursue state credit-assistance programs for school districts. The resolution appeared as a first reading; the board was told it will return for a vote on Feb. 3.
Why it matters: District presenters said the current middle-school campus has many exterior entrances that complicate emergency response and has accessibility gaps that a new facility would address. The committee framed the narrower ask as a response to prior bond outcomes and community feedback, emphasizing that trimming the package increases the probability of voter approval.
What the board discussed: Trustees asked for examples of tax impacts under different assessed-value scenarios. Administrators said the per-thousand assessed-value rate proposed in the materials would be lower than the prior package; documents presented to the board list the package as a $7.9 million ask with illustrative taxpayer examples. The board did not vote on the resolution at the meeting.
Next steps: The resolution will be brought back for formal action at a future meeting (administrators indicated a Feb. 3 follow-up). Committee members and staff said they will proceed with community outreach and informational materials in the lead-up to the April special election.
Provenance: The committee presentation and recommendation appear in the meeting transcript beginning with the citizens-committee remarks; administrators discussed the draft bond resolution in a subsequent first reading of the resolution and finance implications.
