Frequently Asked Questions

• New Hilder Pearson Elementary $82,709,609
• Rebuild David Wolfle Elementary $75,275,806
• Richard Gordon Elementary Addition $9,118,734
• Poulsbo Elementary Addition $8,425,711
• Vinland Elementary Parking/Access $3,403,872
• Poulsbo Middle School Phase 2 $26,174,266
• Kington Middle School Interior $5,513,237
• Kingston High School Athletic Facilities/Fields $11,358,786
• North Kitsap High School Athletic Fields/Access $11,358,374

Bonds require a 60 percent supermajority approval to pass, which is 60% plus one vote of the total votes cast. For a bond to pass, the election must also be validated, meaning voter turnout must be equal to 40% of the voters who cast ballots in the last general election. Levies require a simple majority of 50% + 1 to pass.

The 2024 bond is expected to only slightly raise the dollar amount paid by most property owners. For a home valued at $500.000 we anticipate a $50/year increase, or $.10 per $1,000 of appraised value. For more information, visit theCost Information webpage.

The bond would raise $242,138,395. The estimated cost to property owners is $.84 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. At the end of 2024, a similar amount ($.74/1,000) is coming off the tax rolls due to a drop in the 2022 Capital Levy collections for 2024 and 2025. As a result, the dollar amount paid by most homeowners is expected to stay stable.

We are often asked about how bonds work and how much they "cost". This chart explains the projected timeline for bond authorizations, and the subsequent paydown of the bonds over the course of the bond program (22 years). We are also showing the cost of servicing the bond in terms of debt service and interest, as well as also putting forward the assumption that our EP&O and capital levies would continue to be part of our funding stream during the life of the bond. 

This worksheet contains some key information about the bond measure and cost and taxes. It shows these things:

• estimated valuation increases for assessed value across the area (top box)
• an estimate of how/when we would issue bonds to fund the projects in the bond measure (blue box)
• the amount of debt service and interest paid to service the bond issues (2024, 2025, 2026) (left side of big chart)
• estimated revenue generation of bonds and levies (middle of bottom chart)
• the breakdown and total of estimated tax rates over the life of the bond measure factoring in the increases for assessed valuation (right side of chart) 

It's important to note that this is an estimated projection. Much like when we put forward the annual budget for the district, we make our best assumptions and estimates based off of the information we have on hand (and historical data) - the actuals will be different, but our goal is for the estimate and actuals to be close or more favorable over time.

Link to Projected Tax Rates PDF

Renovating older structures often proves costly and can lead to unexpected expenses. Moreover, such renovations typically require relocating students to nearby schools for a duration of one to two years.

In contrast, new buildings incorporate contemporary safety measures, like limited entry points, and enhanced environmental features, such as augmented natural lighting. These modern structures are also designed to seamlessly integrate the latest technology and offer cutting-edge learning environments. Additionally, they provide efficient and comfortable heating, cooling, and lighting systems, coupled with the chance to lay new plumbing and foundations.

At Hilder Pearson Elementary, the district has run into challenging and costly design issues due to how narrow the property is and how the current school is situated on the property. We looked at several possibilities with experts, and determined that a complete teardown and rebuild would displace students and staff to schools throughout Poulsbo.

Building on a new site allows the district to start new construction sooner, keep all students together throughout the build, and move all students together to the new school. Access from Naval Base Banger is shorter for bus routes, and the majority of the current Pearson Elementary School enrollment is to the north of the current location.

The new location, just off of Finn Hill Road, is owned by the school district and was purchased with funds from the 2022 Capital Projects levy approved by voters. It is also located near neighborhoods where families may choose to enroll in the new school. This would relieve some enrollment pressure at Vinland Elementary.

Thanks to the voter approved 2022 Capital Levy, Suquamish Elementary will have a new gymnasium added to the school. This will alleviate the lack of dedicated lunchroom/commons space for students and staff to utilize while simultaneously running physical education classes. This addition is scheduled to begin construction in Spring 2023.

The $10 million fund for critical and required repairs in the 2024 bond package includes projects such as:

• Playground improvements district wide
• Parking lot and sidewalk repairs district wide
• Perimeter fencing improvements district wide
• Fire alarm replacements district wide
• Interior lighting upgrades at multiple sites
• Auditorium improvements at Poulsbo Middle School

The Citizens Facility Advisory Committee will continue to assess needs brought forward and make recommendations to the superintendent,

This is a common question that we have received over the years. Breidablik Elementary was closed in 2013 due to a lack of enrollment and poor building conditions. The school is located outside the Urban Growth Area of Poulsbo and housing is limited to 1 home for each 5 acre parcel. Our student population is not growing in the area around Breidablik Elementary. Student Population has increased in Poulsbo around both Vinland Elementary and Poulsbo Elementary where population density is much greater, and is slated to continue to grow into the foreseeable future.

The 2024 bond is not adding to our total number of elementary schools. The proposal would rebuild David Wolfle Elementary and Hilder Pearson Elementary. As noted in the project description for Hilder Pearson Elementary, this school will be built at a new location off of Finn Hill Road. Demographic studies have shown that by having Hilder Pearson at the new location, we will have capacity for the full Hilder Pearson population as well as students whose families live in the Vinland Elementary boundary that might choose to attend the new school because it is in their neighborhood.

As we continue to look toward the future and long-range facility planning, we will hold on to the current Hilder Pearson property and the Breidablik property as possible future school sites depending on long term enrollment and changes to county Urban Growth Areas.

NKSD purchased the property at the intersection of Silverdale Way and Lone Maple Lane NW in January 1993 using funds from the 1991 voter-approved bond. The property was purchased at that time as a possible location for a school in the future. We have been working with the county to rezone the undeveloped property in order to sell it to fund future school buildings or modernization projects.

The district submitted a rezoning application in August of 2022 as Kitsap County prepared to update its Comprehensive Plan. This opportunity occurs for land owners once every ten years. The county will review all applications and update the Comprehensive Plan in 2024. The 29 acre parcel is currently zoned Rural Residential and is adjacent to the current Silverdale Urban Growth Area (UGA). In the application, the district suggested that the undeveloped property be included in the Silverdale UGA.

The property was appraised for $560,000 in 2019. If the land is rezoned to an Urban Low Residential Zone, meaning that urban services and utilities are allowed, the appraisal would reach roughly $1.8 million to $2.4 million based on a 2019 appraisal.