RICHLAND, Wash. - The Richland School board approved a $98 million bond proposal in August. But since then the bond has been publicly criticized, rehashed and now reworked.
Closing Jefferson Elementary School was one of the major issues in the original proposal. After a meeting Tuesday night that included up to 90 minutes of public comment, the board agreed to keep that school open.
"The board is really happy that we have so much citizen involvement and so many comments. As we work through the bond and we get it just right, all of that energy, we've heard from them directly, will be put towards passing this bond. It's a good solution for the community," said school board president Rick Jansons.
He said the rebuilding plans for three central Richland schools will be scaled down to help pay for renovations at Jefferson and elsewhere. Also, a new elementary in West Richland was taken out of the bond proposal.
Jansons said the board hopes to have a final bond proposal ready by the end of the month.
