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: $83 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.

A 15-month community study by the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee evaluated options for WHS. Here's why new construction makes sense:

Renovation Problems:

• Core systems are embedded throughout the building (ie., plumbing encased in concrete throughout)
• Would require disruptive multi-year construction with students in the building and the purchase of additional portable classrooms.
• Would cost nearly as much as new construction (HVAC replacement alone ranges between $35 - $79 million depending on model)
• Would only extend building life 15-20 years
• Would still leave it overcrowded and poorly designed

New Construction Benefits:

• 50+ year lifespan
• Built for modern education from day one
• Energy-efficient (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

Price: Modernization would cost more than a new school and not last as long.

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 looking to replace something genuinely worn out after 50 years of service.

The Facts:
The Wenatchee School District believes that the bond to replace Wenatchee High School and support our other buildings with HVAC needs is not a “want”, it is a “need”. We need to ensure a high-quality learning environment for the 95% of students in grades 9-12 who attend there. 

Short term:

• Emergency repairs continue at increasing cost
• State fines begin for HVAC non-compliance (paid from operating budget)
• Systems continue failing during school days
• Construction costs increase 6-7.5% annually

Long term:

• Replacement becomes unavoidable—at higher cost
• State matching funds may not be available in future
• Operating budget strained by repair costs and fines

The $83 million question:

• That state matching money represents years of your state taxes. If Wenatchee doesn't use it, another district will. You paid those taxes either way.

Think of it this way:

Pay to fix the problem now with help, or pay more to fix the same problem later without help. The building won't heal itself. The state money won't wait forever.

The Facts:

The total cost for replacing Wenatchee High School and fixing failing heating/cooling systems at eight buildings is approximately $357 million. The state will contribute approximately $83 million (over 22%) 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
• 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.

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

Students stay in the current building during construction. The build would happen in phases, prioritizing classroom spaces in phase one. Once complete, students can move into classrooms while other construction and modernization happen around the building.

The district is keeping the gyms, pool, locker rooms, auditorium, and band classroom block. This saves the project $20 million in costs. Those spaces would be modernized. Classroom and common spaces would be demolished once new spaces were constructed. 

The total cost for replacing Wenatchee High School and fixing failing heating/cooling systems at eight buildings is approximately $357 million. The state will contribute approximately $83 million 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:

Even with projected decline, Wenatchee High School operates at 104% 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.

We do fix things—constantly. Our maintenance teams work year-round keeping buildings safe and functional, and we invest millions annually in repairs and upkeep.

But here's the problem: You can't fix something that's fundamentally worn out.

Think of it like your car: You can change the oil, replace the tires, and fix the brakes. But when the engine's shot, the transmission's failing, and the frame is rusted through—and parts aren't even made anymore—you don't sink $30,000 into a vehicle that'll last maybe five more years. At some point, you're not fixing it. You're just delaying the inevitable at great expense.

The Reality at WHS:

• Core Systems Are Embedded:
• Plumbing is encased in concrete throughout the building
• HVAC ductwork runs through walls and ceilings
• Electrical systems are built into the structure

You can't just "fix" these—you'd have to tear apart the entire building while students are in it.

The Math Doesn't Work:

• Replacing just the HVAC system at Wenatchee High School ranges from $35- $79 million
• Full renovation would cost nearly as much as new construction
• Would require disruptive multi-year construction with students in the building
• Would only extend the building's life 15-20 years
• Would still leave it overcrowded and poorly designed

Parts Don't Exist:

• Equipment is 50+ years old
• Replacement parts are no longer manufactured
• We're making emergency repairs with outdated, makeshift solutions

It's Not About Maintenance—It's About Age: Even a perfectly maintained roof needs complete replacement after 25-30 years. The same is true for buildings and major systems that have exceeded their engineered lifespan.

 Planned replacement now costs less than:

• Years of expensive emergency repairs
• Higher energy bills from failing systems
• Annual fines for Clean Energy Act non-compliance
• Eventually being forced into emergency replacement at much higher cost

This isn't about giving up on something that works. It's about replacing something that's genuinely worn out after 50 years of service.

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.

The Facts:

Someone voted yes on a school bond for you and your family. Someone else paid taxes so you had schools with working heat and safe buildings. That's how communities function across generations.

What's at stake:

• High school building scored "Poor" by independent assessors
• Systems are 30+ years past designed lifespan
• State fines coming if HVAC isn't fixed
• Emergency repairs getting more expensive
• Construction costs increase 6-7.5% every year we wait

The choice:

Pay now with state matching funds helping, or pay more later when the state money's gone and costs are higher.

Think of it this way:

You maintained your home because letting it fall apart costs more. Communities work the same way. Deferred maintenance doesn't save money—it makes the eventual bill bigger.

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
• 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

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: $79 million
• Building a new high school: $295 million (after state matching funds)
• 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, 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 school will remain in it's current location. The plan modernizes current gyms, pool, locker rooms, auditorium and band classroom block and adds new construction classrooms which will be located in the what is now the student parking lot. 

Here's how it works:

• Students stay in the current building - No disruption to learning, no relocating to temporary facilities
• Students move into the completed new spaces as they are completed.
• Unused portions of the building are demolished
• Track, fields, courts, student and staff parking are rebuilt and/or relocated.

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

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.

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 nearly 22% 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! We're planning building tours this spring at Wenatchee High School.

We want you to see for yourself the condition of our facilities—the 50-year-old systems, the current space utilization, and the infrastructure status. Seeing it firsthand helps you make an informed decision.

What we're planning:

Building Tours - Walk through WHS with district staff. See the aging HVAC systems, original plumbing and electrical infrastructure, and current building layout. 

Community Input Sessions - Provide feedback on facility design concepts. Ask questions about the proposed projects, costs, and timelines. These are informational sessions where you can learn more and share your perspective.

Details coming soon:

Dates and times will be published on our website

These tours and sessions are designed to provide you with factual information about our facilities so you can make an informed decision about the bond measure.