A six-year, $31.9 million Facilities and Technology Capital Projects levy for the North Kitsap School District will be on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

The levy comes just months after the district’s $242 million bond failed to pass garnering only 38% approval at the February special election. It needed 60% to pass.

NKSD documents say the district is running a levy now because aging facilities and systems require improvements, upgrades and replacement, and there’s a backlog of projects and needs that exceed funding. Additionally, the current capital levy funding will drop in 2025 and inflation is causing costs to rise.

The levy would provide funding for safety and security improvements, infrastructure repairs, facility updates to support equity districtwide, and technology education. Approval of the levy would require a 50% plus one vote.

The technology component will cover Chromebook and device replacements that will continue to support the district’s 1:1 initiative; educational software that provides students access to a wide range of digital resources and educational apps that cater to different learning styles and needs; and infrastructure improvements and replacement.

If passed, the levy would be 74 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for 2025 ($10 million), rising to 82 cents for 2026 ($11.5 million), but dropping to 17 cents in 2027 ($2.5 million), 2028 ($2.575 million) and 2029 ($2.652 million), before going up to 18 cents per $1,000 in 2030 ($2.732 million).

Arguments against the measure say the levy is a new tax and incomplete plan, per the county voters pamphlet. It states if the levy is passed, NKSD will have three levies running concurrently. The new tax would cost owners of $500,000 homes an additional $387 in 2025.

A breakdown of the measure follows:

Pearson Elementary (about $6.15 million): gymnasium addition – provides a dedicated PE space for educational program scheduling. It will be planned and designed to allow for possible future school replacement on site; vehicle and school bus circulation and dropoff/pickup improvements; and mechanical improvements to extend the life of the school building and ensure student and staff health and safety.

Suquamish Elementary (about $5 million): secure entry vestibule – provides controlled access to school so all visitors are directed into the front office and greeted by staff; classroom and student resource addition to support students with disabilities and occupational therapy, and renovations to bring all classrooms into the building; vehicle circulation and dropoff/pickup improvements – includes increasing the parent vehicle queue; site accessibility improvements – includes paths; site safety and security improvements – includes perimeter fencing improvements; exterior facility improvements (painting and sealing as needed); and mechanical improvements to extend the life of school building and ensure student and staff health and safety.

Kingston Middle School (about $2.85 million): Replace cinder with rubberized track; vehicle circulation and dropoff/pickup improvements; student-centered site improvements includes an improved and accessible student plaza/courtyard off of the commons; site safety and security improvements – includes perimeter fencing and cameras; and exterior facility improvements (painting and sealing as needed).

Vinland Elementary (about $2.75 million): secure entry vestibule – provides controlled access to the school so that all visitors are directed into the office and greeted by staff; vehicle circulation and dropoff/pickup improvements; site accessibility improvements – includes ADA paths; and site safety and security improvements – includes improved perimeter fencing.

Wolfle Elementary (about $1.9 million): secure entry vestibule – provides controlled access to school so all visitors are directed into office and greeted by staff; vehicle and school bus circulation and dropoff/pickup improvements; site accessibility improvements – sidewalks, pathways; site safety and security improvements – including perimeter fencing and stormwater improvements; and exterior facility improvements (painting and sealing as needed).

North Kitsap High School (about $1.8 million): site accessibility improvements; student-centered site improvements – includes improving the courtyard, landscaping, paths and sidewalks near the commons; exterior facility improvements (includes roofing for 100 building); and mechanical improvements to extend the life of the school building and ensure student and staff health and safety.

Poulsbo Middle School (about $1.51 million): replace cinder with rubberized track; site safety and security improvements – includes improved perimeter fencing; and site surfacing improvements – asphalt repairs and sealing.

Gordon Elementary (about $1.3 million): secure entry vestibule – provides controlled access to school so visitors are directed into office and greeted by staff; site accessibility improvements – sidewalks, pathways; and new playground.

Kingston High School (about $1.1 million): improved stadium fencing and zoning; potable water at the baseball and fastpitch fields; vehicle circulation improvements – removing the utility building and providing additional parking; and site safety and security improvements.

Poulsbo Elementary ($606,000): secure entry vestibule – provides controlled access to school so visitors are directed into office and greeted by staff; and site safety and security improvements – includes perimeter fencing improvements.