HOCKINSON SCHOOL DISTRICT

This fall, the Facilities Planning Committee (FPC) invited Hockinson community members to participate in FPC survey #4. In survey #4, the FPC asked families for feedback on five facility projects. The projects are estimated to cost $44 per month for the average owner of a $750,000 home ($0.71 per $1,000 of assessed property value). 307 respondents ranked facility project priorities in the following order (1 - top priority, 5 - lowest priority):

1. Building a Second Elementary School to address overcrowding at HHES, estimated $57.65 million. 54.4% of respondents ranked this as their top priority.

2. Making District-wide Safety Improvements including improving building lockdown functionalities, estimated $22.6 million. 40.4% of respondents ranked this project as priority #2.

3. Adding a Career & Technical Education Building at HHS for hands-on job readiness classes, estimated $900,000. A combined 60% of respondents ranked this item as priority #3 or 4.

4. Replacing the Track and Installing a Turf Field at HHS for year-round student and community use, estimated $6 million. A combined 52% of respondents ranked this item as priority 4 or 5.

5. Covered Outdoor Play Area at HMS for use before school, during lunch, after school, and for athletic practices, estimated $600,000. A combined 65% of respondents ranked this item as priority 4 or 5.

The FPC asked respondents, do these projects reflect your priorities for district improvements? 83.8% of respondents said that these projects reflect their priorities, somewhat or completely.

Community survey feedback tells us that the track and field project at Hockinson High School is not in the top three facility priorities for Hockinson families at this time. In response to this feedback, the Facilities Planning Committee is researching ways to lower the HHS track and field project proposal by removing lighting replacement from the project and allocating the savings to the construction of a second elementary school, safety upgrades, and the CTE building.

Respondents prioritized the following values in the facility planning process. Respondents could select all statements that apply:

Respondents expressed interest in leveraging outside funding sources, such as grants and state funding, to support the projects. The Facilities Planning Committee is exploring grants and other funding options, and the district has applied for a Small Schools Modernization Grant. In addition to grant dollars, a portion of the total cost is expected to be covered through a creative use of about $2 million in impact fees and property sale proceeds, about $8.7 million in state matching dollars, and in-kind donations. 

If a second elementary school is built, respondents expressed interest in opportunities for students at the two elementary schools to connect on a regular basis for family events and field trips to maintain access to programs and experiences for all elementary students in the district.