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CVSD board approves funding for Valley Tech site
5/16/2012 9:32:00 AM
By Craig Howard
Splash Editor
The site, in the heart of the once thriving commercial area known as U-City, later emerged as the future home of Spokane Valley Tech, a branch campus of the NEWTECH Skills Center, an alternative program specializing in vocational instruction for students from Central Valley, East Valley, Freeman and West Valley school districts with CVSD serving as the venue's host district.
At its regular meeting on Monday, the school board unanimously approved a capital facilities projects fund budget extension that includes $1.725 million for purchase of the Rite Aid building at 10722 East Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley. Financing for the purchase and upgrades to the building will be generated from the sale of $3.25 million in non-voted bonds issued by CVSD.
The acquisition includes three parcels equaling 5.89 acres, a parking lot with just over 250 spaces and the 51,540-square foot structure. A portion of the building - 21, 586 square feet - is already occupied by the West Valley School District's Contract Based Education program.
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In March, the building was valued at $2.36 million, far beyond the district's asking price. That same month, Superintendent Ben Small presented the board with an update, noting that the site had passed an environmental study and conversations with the city of Spokane Valley about the project had gone well.
Spokane Valley Tech is expected to house a number of educational programs specializing in fields such as aerospace manufacturing, sports medicine and more. CVSD spokesperson Melanie Rose said the district would eventually "move forward with seeking additional capital funding from the state through the skill center avenue."
The district has already hired Architects West as the design team on the project. Rose said the start of construction is scheduled for August with plans to have the building ready by January 2013.
After the budget shift was approved on Monday, the board designated the superintendent as the authorized signatory on the purchase and approved a wire transfer of $1.725 million for the acquisition. A total of $25,000 had already been paid by the district in earnest money, Rose said.
In other district news, the board heard a presentation by Central Valley High School Band Director Eric Parker on the possibility of the marching band participating in the presidential inauguration next January in Washington, D.C.
Evergreen High School from Vancouver represented Washington state at the last inaugural event in 2009, one of only 18 schools in the U.S. to march in the nation's capital that Jan. 20. Parker's pitch included a request that the board approve an application for the band - including over 130 student-musicians - to be part of a concert festival in the Maryland area on the same weekend as the inauguration. Setting travel plans soon, Parker said, would allow the band to begin fundraising efforts prior to the selection of the Inauguration Day marching bands in November, two weeks after the general election.
The board will consider the request at its next meeting on March 28.
At that same meeting, the board will also vote on acceptance of a new high school science curriculum, part of a process that began last September with the formation of a committee comprised of teachers, parents and representation from local colleges.
Despite a significant online component, Assistant Superintendent Terrie VanderWegen told the board on Monday that the new curriculum will still include the old-fashioned element of books for every student.
"When every student has a book, it means more accountability," VanderWegen said.