Here we go again, Moscow.
From the 8 August 2026 edition of the Moscow-Pullman News.
MOSCOW — A new high school, middle school or elementary school could be in Moscow School District’s future depending on what transpires during the next several months.
On Aug. 26, the Moscow School Board will vote on whether to place a bond or levy on the November election ballot to fund major facility projects. Most of these projects are meant to address deficiencies in the district’s aging school buildings.
The board met Friday to hear a presentation from Superintendent Shawn Tiegs about their options.
The possible projects include moving Moscow High School into the existing Moscow Middle School building. This project would include renovating that D Street building so that it contains a career technical education space, a new performing arts space and new athletic facilities. Upgrades like a new HVAC system and roofing improvements would also likely be included.
Tiegs estimated this project would cost approximately $56 million. Tiegs said it could extend the life of the building by 80 years and save the district more than $100 million to build a new high school on another piece of property.
The district would then need to construct a new middle school. The district is exploring building the new school on Oylear Field. The estimated cost is approximately $67 million.
The district has also been in talks with the city of Moscow about building a new elementary school on city land along West Palouse River Drive. This is estimated to cost $26 million.
The new school would replace West Park Elementary, which the board says is a deficient building and is not in a walkable location for its students.
Other projects include converting the old Russell Elementary School into the new district office and the location of Paradise Creek Regional High School. The existing district office would be transformed into a CTE space that focuses on medical professions. The Russell Elementary remodel is estimated at $6 million.
The district also wants to upgrade Lena Whitmore Elementary School’s HVAC system at an estimated $3 million.
The district won’t ask voters to pay for all of these projects with this year’s levy or bond. The Moscow School Board would decide which ones should be on the ballot.
On Friday, the board discussed how to pay for them.
Passing a bond means the district would ask for more money to be paid off over a longer term — with 30 years being the limit. It would likely be set at more than $100 million. The advantage, Tiegs said, is that it would provide the district with all of the cash up front to complete its projects.
However, it would also require two-thirds of the vote and Tiegs said a school bond has not passed in Idaho the past two years.
A plant facilities levy is less money over a shorter term of up to 10 years. It needs only 55% or 60% depending how much money the district is requesting.
The disadvantage, Tiegs said, is that the district receives that money in yearly increments for up to 10 years. Tiegs said his biggest concern is the escalation of construction costs in the future. He said inflation is “the biggest risk.”
Board member Brian Kennedy said a plant facilities levy worries him because it would require construction projects to be stretched out for more years.
However, board members Ken Faunce and Jim Frenzel both expressed confidence that a plant facilities levy would pass in the November election with the 60% voter threshold.
“My personal feeling is there’s no way a bond will pass,” Frenzel said.
Board member Dulce Kersting-Lark said community members expressed that they want the district to make major facilities changes, and the board has to give them that opportunity.
She added that the Moscow School District has a “proven track record” of maintaining its buildings, which means that this would be a long-term investment.
Faunce said he does not want to delay these projects because they will only become more expensive in the future.