Question:  Why are we replacing Tolt Middle School? Did the district consider the option of renovating the existing middle school, rather than re-building?

 

Answer:  The district's only middle school, Tolt Middle School, serving grades 6-8, faces critical challenges due to aging infrastructure and its multi-building style campus. The facility lacks essential facilities such as an adequate cafeteria, performance space, gym, and flexible & specialized learning spaces suited for modern curriculum. The existing location of the main office hinders supervision, and the school relies on four portables. With systems at or beyond their lifespan, Tolt Middle School has the district’s lowest BCA score (a state standard for building condition), and ongoing issues like leaky roofs, plumbing failures, and extreme temperatures that disrupt learning. Built in phases over 6 decades and last modernized almost 20 years ago, the school is overdue for updates.

 

Tolt Middle School will be replaced and expanded to address its aging and failing infrastructure, ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for students. An updated, modern building will enhance safety and security, while site parking and traffic circulation improvements will create a more efficient and accessible campus for students, staff, and families.

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Question:  Where will the new middle school be built, and where will students go during construction?

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Answer: The new Tolt Middle School will be built on the back portion of the current Tolt campus. Students will continue attending the existing buildings throughout construction. Because the campus spans approximately 40 acres and also houses the district’s Maintenance Shop and Transportation Facility, there is enough space to keep construction activity separated from daily school operations. This allows the district to maintain safety standards and minimize disruption so students can continue learning as usual while the new school is built.

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Question:  What is the timeline for building the new middle school and completing other proposed projects?

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Large school construction projects typically take three to four years from design to completion. If voters approve the bond, the district anticipates this timeline:

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• 2025–26 School Year: A School Design Advisory Committee will be formed. This group—made up of district staff, students, community members, and subject matter experts—will guide the design of the new middle school. Regular public updates will be provided throughout the design process.

• 2026–27 School Year: Architects develop detailed plans and submit permit applications.

• 2027–28 School Year: The district obtains permits and prepares the site for construction. Groundbreaking is expected to occur at the end of this school year.

• 2028–29 School Year: Construction continues on the new school building.

• 2029–30 School Year: The new Tolt Middle School is expected to open for students.
   

While middle school planning and construction occur, the district will move forward with smaller upgrades districtwide. These projects will be designed and permitted during the school year so that work can be completed during summer break to avoid disruptions to learning.

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Question:  Where will the new Transportation Facility be built?

 

Answer:  Upon completion of the new Tolt Middle School, the district anticipates renovating the existing Administration building (Building A) of the current Tolt Middle School to provide a unified space for all transportation staff including bus drivers, dispatchers, and administrative staff. Program space will include offices, training rooms, a meeting room sized to accommodate the entire staff, and restrooms. Behind the new Transportation headquarters, the existing classroom buildings will be demolished to provide parking for the district's fleet of school buses, fueling station, washing bay, and maintenance facilities.

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Question:  How much will the bond and levies cost homeowners, and how long will the tax rate increase last?

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Answer:  The bond and levies have different timelines and financial impacts:

• Bond (Proposition 3): Has a 20-year repayment cycle.

• Educational Programs & Operations Levy (Prop 1): Renews every four years; not a new tax. Estimated increase is $0.30 per $1,000 of assessed value.

• Capital Projects & Technology Levy (Prop 2): Renews every four years and increases between $0.05 and $0.10 per $1,000 of assessed value (highest in year one).
   

The bond rate fluctuates between $0.60–$0.65 per $1,000 depending on the year. Altogether, the combined impact of all three measures is estimated at about $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed value each year for the duration of the bond.

To estimate your household impact, use:  (Assessed Value ÷ $1,000) × $1.00 = Total Estimated Annual Increase

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Question:  How were project costs determined, and what financial accountability measures are in place?

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Answer:  The district conducted a rigorous, multi-year process to ensure accurate cost estimates and public accountability:

• 2023–24: A Capital Asset Advisory Committee (CAAC), composed of community members and guided by a third-party consultant, assessed every district facility. They reviewed building conditions, system failures, functional capacities, and educational adequacy. The committee identified the replacement of Tolt Middle School as the top priority.

• 2024–25: A 40-member Bond Planning Committee was formed, including students, staff, parents, community members, school board members, teachers, administrators, and district staff. This committee:

• Consulted with department experts and external financial advisors
• Commissioned a districtwide community survey through Strategies 360
• Reviewed construction market trends with a commercial construction consultant
• Evaluated inflation and cost escalations in school construction over the last several decades

 

• The committee prepared a final recommendation for the School Board, which held listening sessions and conducted another community survey before adoption.

• On November 12, 2025, the Board approved the final bond package. The accompanying bond resolution legally requires the district to spend funds only on the projects specified, providing strong financial safeguards.

• ​All documents are publicly available via the November 12 board meeting agenda.

 

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Question:  Why is a bond being used instead of a capital levy for these projects?

 

Answer:  For districts with Riverview’s smaller tax base, large capital projects cannot realistically be funded through levies.
 

• Capital levies:

  • Collect smaller amounts once per year for only four years

  • Cannot raise enough revenue to fund major construction

  • Are better suited for smaller-scale improvements

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• A bond functions like a long-term mortgage:

  • Funds are issued upfront so projects can begin immediately

  • Repayment spreads over 20 years, reducing yearly cost to taxpayers

  • Annual collections fund only the necessary principal and interest payments

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Large districts such as Seattle and Lake Washington, with tax bases over ten times larger than Riverview’s, can afford to run large capital levies to build new schools. Riverview cannot, making a bond the most financially responsible option.

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Question:  Why aren’t major upgrades or expansions at Cedarcrest High School included in this bond, and what are future plans for CHS?

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Answer:  Due to declining enrollment across the district, capacity-driven projects were not the highest priority for this bond cycle. While Cedarcrest’s commons space is tight, the school is not experiencing classroom capacity shortages.

Meanwhile, Tolt Middle School faces challenges including:

• Failing major systems such as HVAC and electrical

• An outdated California-style campus design that affects safety

• Aging structures and infrastructure at the end of their usable life

• Outdated classrooms not designed for 21st-century learning
   

Given the severity of these issues, replacing Tolt was the most urgent and cost-effective choice. The district will revisit CHS needs in future planning cycles.

 

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Question:  What is the long-term plan for district-owned properties, including the Big Rock Road parcel?
 

Answer:  It is common practice for school districts to own undeveloped land to plan for long-term enrollment changes or future facility needs. Although the district does not currently expect to build additional campuses, the Big Rock Road property and other parcels will be retained as valuable long-term assets for future expansion when needed.

What safety and security improvements are included, and why are fencing and secure campuses necessary?

The bond includes critical safety features aligned with modern school security best practices:

• Secure entry vestibules will be added at all schools, creating a single controlled point of entry for visitors.

• Carnation Elementary’s two buildings will be connected, allowing students and staff to move between areas without going outdoors.

• Perimeter fencing will be installed at all elementary schools to prevent unauthorized access to playgrounds, fields, and school grounds during the school day.
   

These improvements will help ensure only authorized individuals may enter campus, improve visitor management, and reduce opportunities for students to inadvertently or intentionally leave school grounds.

 

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Question:  What technology upgrades are planned, and how will cybersecurity and maintenance needs be supported? 
 

Answer:  The Capital Projects & Technology Levy (Prop 2) provides essential funding to maintain and modernize district technology systems:

• Lifecycle replacement of student and staff devices

• Upgrades to network infrastructure, Wi-Fi, and internet connectivity

• Cybersecurity tools and software needed to protect student data

• Support for school safety systems, including cameras and access control

• Maintenance and licensing for instructional, administrative, and communications software
   

Together, these investments ensure that technology remains reliable, secure, and aligned with classroom needs.

 

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Question:  What improvements are included for playgrounds, fields, and athletic facilities, including artificial turf at Tolt?

 

Answer:  Several facilities across the district require upgrades to be safe and functional:

• Elementary school playfields: Poor drainage and lack of irrigation often make fields muddy, uneven, and unsafe. Improvements will increase safety and usability.

• Cedarcrest High School field lighting: Older lighting systems are difficult to maintain because parts are outdated or unavailable. Replacement will ensure reliability and improve visibility and safety.

• Tolt Middle School turf field: The current grass field is difficult to maintain and is unusable for much of the wet season. A turf field would provide consistent and flexible fields, year-round access for PE classes, school athletics, and community use. 

 

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Question:  How does this bond address growth, enrollment changes, and long-term capacity needs?

 

Answer:  Although bonds are typically designed with long-term enrollment projections in mind, Riverview’s current ten-year outlook shows slow growth that returns to near pre-pandemic levels toward the end of the projection window. Because rapid growth is not expected, this bond focuses on replacing aging infrastructure, improving safety, and maintaining educational adequacy rather than expanding capacity.

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Question:  How does the bond relate to class sizes, staffing shortages, counseling, nursing, and student services?

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Answer:  The bond funds capital improvements only—buildings, systems, and major renovations.
Staffing and student supports are funded through the Educational Programs & Operations Levy (Prop 1), which covers:

• Teaching staff needed to maintain reasonable class sizes

• Counseling, nursing, and student support services

• Arts, music, and other enrichment programs

• Extracurriculars, including athletics, coaches, and athletic trainers

• Maintenance, custodial support, and operations shortfalls

• Transportation and nutrition service gaps not fully funded by the state
   

The state does not fully fund these essential services, so the EP&O levy is critical to maintaining programs students rely on.

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Question:  What happens if the bond does not pass?
 

Answer:  The district has not passed a bond since 2007, and the state does not fund major building improvements or replacements. Without bond funding:

• The district must continue to operate buildings with aging, outdated, and failing systems.

• HVAC and electrical systems—many long past their intended service life—will continue requiring costly repairs.

• Maintenance cannot keep pace with the scale of needs using only the Capital Projects Levy.

• Safety, security, and educational adequacy issues will worsen.

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Ultimately, failing to pass the bond means students and staff will remain in buildings that do not meet modern standards for learning or safety.

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Question:  How will the district ensure communication, transparency, and community engagement throughout the bond process? 

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Answer:  The district will implement a comprehensive communication plan that includes:

• Regular online and print updates about project progress and timelines

• Ongoing community meetings and public presentations

• Publishing minutes and materials from the middle school design advisory committee

• Clear reporting on expenditures and timelines as projects move forward
   

Transparency and community engagement will continue from bond approval through the completion of all projects.