In a decisive move to address decades‑long concerns about aging school facilities, the Moscow School Board voted Wednesday night to place a seven‑year plant‑facility levy on the November ballot. The measure would raise $9.37 million each year – a total of $65.6 million – to begin converting the district’s middle school into a high school and to fund future construction of a new middle school.

Why a levy, not a bond?

Traditional bonds have become increasingly difficult to pass in Idaho. The last school bond statewide cleared in May 2024, and since then, bond passage rates have plummeted. Bonds also require a two‑thirds supermajority and obligate districts to repay the full amount plus interest, often costing taxpayers nearly 90 % of the principal in interest over the life of the loan.

Plant‑facility levies, by contrast, are collected annually and can be structured with lower approval thresholds – 60 % or even 55 % depending on a district’s debt load. While they do not provide all funds up front, a 2015 Idaho Supreme Court decision allows districts to use lease‑to‑purchase agreements to obtain a loan and receive a portion of the money early.

Phase 1: Converting the middle school

The first phase of the plan would transform the existing middle school into a high school at an estimated cost of $55 million. District officials say the conversion is cheaper than building a brand‑new high school, which would likely exceed $110 million. The renovation would be staged so that middle‑school students could continue using the building while work proceeds. Expected improvements include a new performing arts center, a modern commons area, and upgraded classroom spaces.

Superintendent Shawn Tiegs highlighted immediate benefits, noting that completed facilities such as the performing arts center could open to the public as soon as construction finishes, demonstrating tangible value to taxpayers.

Phase 2: Building a new middle school

After the high‑school conversion, the district plans to construct a new middle school at an estimated $67 million. Because the district already owns the current middle‑school building, a lease‑to‑purchase agreement for the conversion is not feasible; however, the same financing tool could be used for the new middle‑school construction.

The second phase would require a separate levy to be approved within the next seven years. Trustees hope the success of the first phase will build voter confidence and make the follow‑up measure more attainable.

Community response

All nine members of the public who spoke at the meeting expressed support for the trustees’ direction, though many voiced concerns about the difficulty of passing any measure in today’s fiscal climate. Retired teacher and former state‑representative candidate Kathy Dawes suggested the district consider a single, larger bond to cover both projects, acknowledging the challenge but urging a bold approach.

Local candidates for county commissioner also weighed in. Carole Wells, running for Latah County Commissioner, pledged to spread the word about the trustees’ decision, while longtime resident Allen Johns emphasized the importance of modern facilities for attracting new families and businesses to Moscow.

Financial impact on taxpayers

The levy would cost roughly $280 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value before state property‑tax relief. With a 60 % approval threshold, the measure is designed to be more attainable than a traditional bond, yet still represents a significant investment for the community.

Trustees noted that the district’s existing bond is set to expire in seven years, meaning the levy could help keep the overall tax burden stable even if a second measure is needed later.

Looking ahead

Superintendent Tiegs used his own children’s school experiences to illustrate the timeline, explaining how his fourth‑grade son would navigate the construction zones during the transition. “We have to make this mark,” he said, underscoring the urgency of securing funding now.

With the levy slated for the November ballot, Moscow voters will have a clear choice: approve a financing tool that promises incremental upgrades and a path toward a new middle school, or continue to rely on limited maintenance levies that have failed 80 % of the time this spring.

Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.