Battle Ground Public Schools

School facilities play a critical role in providing a quality education. They are more than just classrooms, they are part of a community's identity. Battle Ground Public Schools is committed to providing safe and secure facilities that allow for the delivery of a high quality education in a functional environment. To meet current and future needs, the district has worked in collaboration with a team of community volunteers called the Facilities Improvement Team (FIT) over the past year and a half to create a long-range facilities plan. The plan, adopted by the Battle Ground School Board at the end of June, will serve as a guide to help the district meet the educational needs of a growing community. This document describes the long-range plan, including the funding necessary to complete three phases of work spread over the next 18 years, and wraps up with a series of frequently asked questions the district received during its conversations with community members through Thoughtexchange surveys. Together we can empower students to reach their highest potential by creating inviting classrooms with access to resources and integrated technology that foster innovation. Additional information and the Long-Range Facilities Plan in its entirety is on the district website at: www.battlegroundps.org THE FINE PRINT There is fine print in this plan. First, the plan is just that, a plan. Projects are subject to change based on district resources, enrollment, and unforeseen events. And second, the plan's implementation hinges on the approval of funding through ballot initiatives and state assistance programs for school construction and renovation. FUNDING OPTIONS Funding is an essential component of facility planning. FIT members and district administration agreed that school facility projects should be planned in a way that provides safe and positive learning environments for students and staff while maintaining fiscal responsibility to the community. Battle Ground Public Schools receives the bulk of its operating revenue from three sources: the state, the federal government, and from local property taxes. The district uses a combination of these revenue sources to construct new facilities and renovate and maintain existing facilities. BONDS VS LEVY FUNDING The district can acquire local property taxes through bonds or levies that must be approved by taxpayers through a ballot initiative. The district can use school bonds only for school construction projects, including new buildings, land purchases, renovations, and major improvement projects. Bonds, like a home mortgage, allow the district to use the money collected from taxes up front and then pay it back over a specific time period with the tax collections, usually 15-20 years. Maintenance and operation levies can be used for maintenance, operations, classroom materials, technology, program enhancements and staffing levels. In addition, levy dollars can only be used after they are collected each year. Levies are designed so that a set dollar amount is collected annually from taxpayers for a specific number of years before voters must approve a replacement levy. STATE CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE The state provides funding assistance through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP). The program provides two types of funding assistance. Funding for ■ ■ Renovation and replacement of current facilities is based on age. ■ ■ New schools is based on student enrollment and the number of unhoused students. IMPACT FEES Local governments collect impact fees on new housing developments and then disburse the funds to the school district to pay for capital facility projects that accommodate growth. Battle Ground uses these funds to construct additional classrooms such as the 10-plex modulars going in this summer at Chief Umtuch Middle and Pleasant Valley Primary schools. COMMUNITY-LED

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