We haven't neglected our buildings. Our maintenance teams work year-round keeping buildings safe and functional. We invest millions annually in upkeep and repairs. But maintenance can't stop aging or extend systems beyond their engineered lifespan.

Think of it like your roof: You can maintain it perfectly—clean the gutters, replace shingles, inspect regularly, fix leaks immediately. But after 25-30 years, even the best-maintained roof reaches the end of its life and needs complete replacement. That's not neglect—that's the reality of how materials and systems age.

The same is true for buildings:

• We maintain constantly:
• Daily custodial work
• Regular inspections
• Immediate repairs when things break
• Preventive maintenance schedules
• Millions invested annually

But we can't stop time:

• The WHS building is 50+ years old
• HVAC systems have a 15-20 year lifespan (ours are 50+ years old)
• Plumbing pipes corrode and fail over decades
• Electrical systems can't be "maintained" to handle modern demands they weren't designed for
• Building codes and safety standards change

This isn't deferred maintenance—it's end of life:

• Maintenance fixes things that break. It doesn't:
• Replace 50-year-old embedded plumbing systems
• Redesign electrical systems for modern technology
• Add windows to windowless classrooms
• Rebuild HVAC systems with obsolete parts
• Address fundamental building design issues

The Math:

• Just replacing the HVAC system at WHS: $79 million
• That's not a maintenance cost—that's a capital replacement project
• No amount of "better maintenance" would have prevented 50-year-old systems from wearing out

The Reality:

Someone built that high school in 1972. For 50 years, we've maintained it. But buildings and major systems eventually wear out—no matter how well you maintain them. That's not neglect. That's just how buildings work.

You can't maintain your way out of old age. Eventually, replacement is the only option.

What's Being Preserved

The proposal preserves and renovates spaces with intact core structures, including the gymnasiums, pool, locker rooms, band classrooms, and auditorium. These spaces remain structurally sound and don't carry the same systemic issues found elsewhere in the building. Preserving them also saves the project an estimated $27 million.

Why the Rest Needs to Be New

For the remainder of the building, full renovation isn't a viable option:

• Core systems are embedded throughout the building (for example, plumbing encased in concrete)
• Renovation would require disruptive multi-year construction with students in the building, along with the purchase of additional portable classrooms
• It would cost nearly as much as new construction
• It would only extend the building's life 15–20 years
• It would still leave the school overcrowded and poorly designed

Why New Construction Makes Sense

• 50+ year lifespan
• Built for modern education from day one
• Energy-efficient, with lower operating costs
• Minimal disruption — students stay in the current building during construction
• Purpose-built spaces for career and technical education
• Better use of taxpayer investment over time

Think of it this way: you know when to fix your old car and when to replace it. When the engine's shot, the transmission's going out, the frame's rusted, and parts aren't made anymore, you don't sink $30,000 into a vehicle that'll last maybe five more years. We're not throwing away something that works — we're preserving what's still solid, and replacing what's genuinely worn out after 50 years of service.

Because new construction would take place on the current site, students would continue attending class in the existing building throughout the project.

The Facts:

Even with projected decline, Wenatchee High School operates over capacity—it's overcrowded, and our HVAC in other schools is failing.

The plan:

• New building sized for projected enrollment, not current overcrowding
• Right-sized facility is more efficient and costs less to operate
• Systems are failing regardless of student numbers

Think of it this way:

If your house had a failed furnace, corroded pipes, and a roof at the end of its life, you wouldn't say "Well, the kids moved out, so I'll just freeze." You'd fix it or move to something appropriate.

The current building is too big and broken. Building right-sized and functional makes more sense than maintaining oversized and failing.

The Facts:

The total cost for rebuilding Wenatchee High School and replacing failing heating/cooling systems at seven buildings is approximately $357 million. The state will contribute approximately $83 million (almost 20%) in matching funds if voters approve the bond.

What that means:

• Local taxpayers pay approximately $275 million
• The state covers approximately $83 million

Think of it this way:
You've been paying state taxes for years. This is money you've already paid coming back to Wenatchee. Construction costs increase 6-7.5% annually. Waiting one year adds approximately $22-28 million to the price. The longer we wait, the more expensive it gets—and those state dollars may not always be available.

The Facts:

Health and Safety:

• During wildfire smoke, old systems cannot filter properly
• Documented unsafe indoor air quality readings as high as 130 AQI
• Students report classrooms reaching high 80s during heat waves
• Health complaints: asthma flare-ups, headaches
• Systems are 50+ years old, designed for 15-20 years

State Compliance:

• The district has been notified these systems must meet current Washington State Clean Energy Act standards. Continued non-compliance results in annual fines from the operating budget—money that would otherwise go to support learning and student programs.
• Emergency repairs are frequent and expensive because replacement parts don't exist for the 50-year-old system.

Think of it this way:
When children sit in 85-degree classrooms breathing wildfire smoke because the ventilation is from the Nixon administration, that's not "tough it out"—that's a genuine problem. You didn't have AC because buildings were designed differently, and summers weren't as hot. Today's sustained heat and wildfire smoke weren't part of the 1972 design specs. The world changed; the building didn't.

Short answer: Washington State law doesn't allow it. Operating funds and construction funds are legally separate.

Here's why:

• Two Separate Funding Streams - By Law
  • Operating Budget (from levies and state funding):
    • Pays for day-to-day operations
    • Teachers and staff salaries
    • Classroom supplies and materials
    • Utilities and maintenance
    • Educational programs
  • Cannot legally be used for construction

Capital Budget (from bonds):

• Pays only for construction and major infrastructure
• Building replacement
• Major system overhauls
• Cannot be used for operating expenses or staff

Think of it like your household budget: Your monthly paycheck covers groceries, utilities, and everyday expenses. But when you need a new roof or major home construction, you can't just use your grocery money—you need special financing. That's exactly how school funding works.

The Numbers:

• Replacing just the HVAC at WHS ranges between $30 - $79 million
• Rebuilding the high school: $299 million 
• The district's entire annual operating budget isn't enough to cover these costs—and even if it were, the law prohibits using operating funds for construction

Why the law exists: The separation ensures that:

• Day-to-day education isn't disrupted by construction costs
• Large capital projects don't drain funds meant for teachers and programs
• Voters have direct say over major construction through bond elections

The reality:

We can maintain buildings with operating funds—fix leaks, replace light bulbs, and repair broken equipment. But we cannot use those funds to replace 50-year-old buildings or rebuild entire HVAC systems. That requires bond funding, which requires voter approval.

The new Wenatchee High School will be built on the current WHS campus,

Here's how it works:

• Students stay in the current building - No disruption to learning, no relocating to temporary facilities
• Construction would happen in phases that would prioritize new classroom construction first, allowing students and staff to move into those spaces first while other parts of the project are being completed.
• The gyms, pool, weight room, locker rooms, auditorium and band classroom block will be kept and modernized and connected to newly constructed classrooms and common spaces.
• Ares of the old building is demolished 
• Track, fields, courts, and parking are moved or rebuilt.

Why this approach?

• Minimal disruption to students and learning
• More cost-effective than relocating students or building elsewhere
• Keeps the high school on its current campus location

Timeline: Typically 2-3 years from groundbreaking to move-in

Students stay in the current building during construction.

It would be demolished and replaced with the relocated track, playing fields, and parking.

The Facts:

Legal Restrictions:

• Bond money can only be used for construction and infrastructure—it's the law
• Cannot be used for administrator salaries, programs, or operating expenses
• Cannot be redirected to other purposes

Oversight:

• State Auditor's Office audits all expenditures
• All expenditures publicly reported
• Any significant changes require public board approval
• Citizen bond oversight committee 

Design Priorities:

#1 priority: Safety and Security features. We’re not going to build a Taj Mahal. No fancy atriums—just functional, safe spaces where students can thrive.

• Properly sized classrooms with windows and natural light
• Safe spaces for students
• Working mechanical systems (HVAC, plumbing and electrical)
• Secure building design

The state does contribute, but school construction is a shared responsibility between state and local funding.

Here's how it works:

State Contribution:

• Washington provides matching funds through the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP)
• Wenatchee School District qualifies for approximately $79 million in state matching funds (nearly 20% of the project cost)
• The state determines match amounts based on district property values and other factors

Local Contribution:

• Local communities fund the remaining portion through voter-approved bonds
• This system allows local voters to decide what facilities their community needs and is willing to fund
• After state match, the local bond would be $295 million

Why This System? Washington State has 295 school districts with varying needs, sizes, and priorities. The shared funding model allows:

• State dollars to stretch further across all districts
• Local communities to maintain control over their facility decisions
• Districts to address their specific needs rather than one-size-fits-all solutions

The Bottom Line: The state is contributing $79 million toward these projects. Local voters decide whether to approve the remaining $295 million through the bond measure.

The Facts:

Microsoft is constructing data centers in Malaga, which is within the Wenatchee School District boundaries. The first facility is expected to be on the tax rolls in 2026-2027.

What this means for your bond cost:

When Microsoft's data centers are added to the tax rolls, they significantly increase the district's total assessed valuation. Bond costs are spread across all assessed value in the district—residential, commercial, and industrial properties combined.

The effect:

As Microsoft's massive assessed value is added to the district's tax base, the cost per individual homeowner goes down. The same total bond amount is divided among more total value, meaning each homeowner pays a smaller share.

Think of it this way—The Rich Uncle:

Imagine your family needs to replace the roof on your grandmother's house. It costs $30,000, and originally 10 family members were going to split it—$3,000 each.

Then your rich uncle moves to town and says, "I'll chip in too." Now 11 people split the $30,000, so your share drops to $2,727.

But your rich uncle isn't just any family member—he's really rich. So while you're contributing based on your modest income, he's contributing based on his millions. Your actual share might drop to $1,500 or less because he's carrying a much larger portion based on his wealth.

That's what Microsoft does for Wenatchee taxpayers. They become part of the "family" splitting the bill, but because their assessed value is so massive, they carry a much larger share of the bond cost. Your individual cost goes down even though the total project cost stays the same.

The timing:

With Microsoft's first data center hitting the tax rolls in 2026-2027 and the bond likely running for 15 years, homeowners will see the benefit of Microsoft's contribution for the majority of the bond term.

The math:

Every million dollars Microsoft adds to the district's assessed valuation reduces the per-homeowner cost. With data centers valued in the hundreds of millions, the impact on individual taxpayer burden is significant and ongoing throughout the life of the bond.

Yes, Washington State offers property tax relief programs specifically for seniors and people with disabilities.

Senior Citizen/Disabled Person Property Tax Exemption Program:

This state program can reduce or eliminate property taxes, including bond payments, for qualifying seniors and disabled individuals.

Who Qualifies:

• Age 61 or older, or retired due to disability
• Meet income limits (limits vary by county and household size)
• Own and occupy your home as primary residence

Income Limits for 2025 (Chelan County):

• Exemption levels range based on income and household size
• Check current limits at the Chelan County Assessor's office

How Much Relief: Depending on income level, you may qualify for:

• Partial exemption (reduced property taxes)
• Full exemption (no property taxes on qualifying portion of assessed value)

How to Apply:

• Contact: Chelan County Assessor's Office
• Phone: 509-667-6365
• Website: Chelan County Assessor's website
• Application deadline: Typically December 31st annually

Important: These are state and county programs independent of the school district. We encourage you to contact the Assessor's office to see if you qualify and get assistance with the application process.

It's a fair question, and an important distinction with school bonds: unlike many government projects, a school bond is for a fixed, voter-approved amount. We don't get to come back and ask for more if costs run over.

That means the estimates in this proposal aren't a starting point — they're the ceiling. If approved, the district must deliver the project within that set budget. There's no extra funding available if costs exceed the bond amount, so the project team has to plan carefully, build in contingencies, and hold tightly to the budget throughout construction.

This is also why the planning process took as long as it did — three years of study involving the Facilities Committee, engineers, architects, and community input — to make sure the cost estimates are realistic and the scope of the project matches what the bond can actually fund.

Oversight:

• State Auditor's Office audits all expenditures
• All expenditures publicly reported
• Any significant changes require public board approval
• Citizens bond oversight committee

Design Priorities:

#1 priority: Safety and Security features. We’re not going to build a Taj Mahal. No fancy atriums—just functional, safe spaces where students can thrive.

• Properly sized classrooms with windows and natural light
• Safe spaces for students
• Working mechanical systems (HVAC, plumbing and electrical)
• Secure building design

History of Bond Savings:

When voters approved the 2014 bond to rebuild Washington Elementary and modernize Lincoln Elementary, the project came in $3 million under budget. Those funds were reallocated to other important security projects at schools across the district.

We understand—no one wants higher taxes.

Here's what's actually happening with this bond:

The Tax Rate: The bond is projected to keep the tax rate flat, with a $1.46 increase per $1,000 of assessed property value over 20 years.

Use the calculator on our website to determine your tax impact.

But here's the thing:

The costs don't go away—they just get more expensive:

• Emergency repairs keep increasing
• Annual fines for Clean Energy Act non-compliance (hundreds of thousands of dollars)
• Higher utility bills from failing, inefficient systems
• Eventually, emergency replacement at much higher cost

Construction costs increase 6-7.5% annually (waiting one year adds $22-28 million)

You're paying either way:

Option 1: Planned replacement now at today's prices

Option 2: Keep paying for emergency repairs, fines, and higher energy costs—then pay for emergency replacement later at inflated prices

The State is Offering $83 Million: State matching funds cover over 20% of the cost. If we don't act now, we lose that money—and you pay the full amount later.

This isn't political. It's plumbing. After 50 years, pipes fail and heating systems break down. You can't maintain your way out of that.

Someone paid for the school you or your children attended. That's how communities work—we maintain what previous generations built, and we replace it when it wears out.

The question isn't whether we pay. It's whether we pay smartly now, or pay more later.

Yes, as part of the project, the track will be replaced, and the condemned tennis courts will be rebuilt.