Battle Ground board votes to repair some school buildings

The Battle Ground School Board on Saturday approved a list of much-needed repair projects in some of the district’s schools, according to a district statement. This vote came on the heels of heated discussions and a split vote in June over what to do with leftover money from a 2005 bond measure.

The projects voted on Saturday will paid for with the leftover money, as well as grants and local impact fees.

The district had about $5.5 million left over from the bond, which some residents wanted to be used to pay down the bond and lower their property taxes.

The board in the end voted 4-1 to use nearly $500,000 toward paying down the bond, and to use the remaining roughly $5 million to fix up schools. Saturday’s list does not include every repair needed in Battle Ground schools; further school repairs will be voted on later in the summer, the district announced.

The Board approved additions to the Pleasant Valley and Tukes Valley campuses to accommodate growth, which will be ready early next year; replacement of the sprinkler system at Maple Grove Middle School; roof and exterior-wall repairs to the cafeteria at Battle Ground High; and replacement of parts of the roof at Yacolt Primary.

It also approved smaller repairs, including in restrooms and parking lots at a number of district schools. For a detailed list, go to http://battlegroundps.org.

The board also authorized district officials to refinance the 2005 bonds, which officials say could save residents up to $3 million in tax payments.