How the bond is allocated
1
New TK-5 elementary school = about $57.7 local bond contribution, after impact fees and property sales and state-assisted funding
(65.7% of total bond)
2
HHES demo, rebuild and remodel: Connected campus & Safety Upgrade = about $23.3 million
(26.5% of total bond)
3
HHS CTE Building & HS Safety Upgrade = approximately $1.2 million, leveraging additional in-kind and cash donor contributions
(1.4% of total bond)
4
Replacement Track and Install Multi-Use Synthetic Turf Field HHS = about $4.8 million
(5.5% of total bond)
5
HMS Outdoor Play Area & Safety Upgrade = about $800,000
(0.9% of total bond)
The Top 5 Reasons to Vote for the HSD Bond
- Focused on Students, Safety & Learning: With an overcrowded elementary school, aging facilities, and critical safety gaps on every campus - this bond will ensure safe and modern learning environments for all Hockinson students.
- Community-Driven: This bond reflects the priorities of Hockinson residents, whose input directed a planning committee that carefully balanced school needs while minimizing financial impact.
- Financially Responsible: Committee members explored solutions and formulated the most cost-effective approach to fulfill community priorities. Delaying this bond will result in an increased cost for these necessary updates down the road.
- Protects Your Investment: Thriving schools elevate property values and enhance Hockinson’s reputation. Supporting this bond builds on past investments, ensuring school facilities match the overall quality of our programs and community.
- Depends On Your Vote: It will take every voter's participation to continue the legacy that past generations have built in Hockinson. It’s our turn to provide resources that empower Hockinson’s students to succeed.
"As a proud former student, I know that the Hockinson School District played a crucial role in shaping who I am today. I want future generations to have the same opportunities to grow and learn in the nurturing, challenging environment that I was fortunate to experience."
"As a grandmother and longtime resident of Hockinson and retired educator, I am writing to urge my fellow community members to support the upcoming bond election in February. This bond is not just about brick-and-mortar buildings; it is about securing the future of our children and ensuring that every student in our district has the space, resources and opportunities they deserve to succeed."
“We have quite a few students and a large staff, and so that creates some unique challenges for us,” Hockinson Heights Elementary School Principal Meredith Gannon said. “About a third of our students are in portable classrooms, and they spend a good chunk of their day just kind of walking between buildings to get from their classroom to specialists or their classroom to the lunchroom.”
Did you know?
92.2% of the total bond proposal addresses elementary overcrowding and safety by building a second elementary school and remodeling and updating HHES?
HHES demo, rebuild and remodel: Connected campus & Safety Upgrade = about $23.3 million (26.5% of total bond)
Even with a .68 cent increase in total combined tax rate, the HSD’s $3.69/$1,000 is 34 cents less than the rate being proposed in Evergreen Public Schools?
At 925 students (as of 1/9/2025), HHES has twice as many students in a building that, originally built in 1968, is twice as old as other elementary schools in our county? [Clark County averages: Enrollment - 449 students, Building age - 27 years.]
The HSD has spread out school bond projects to spread out the tax impact on Hockinson residents?
Bonds require a supermajority (60%) to pass? The 2000 bond for HHS passed by only 9 votes! Can you imagine Hockinson without HHS?
In the 2027-28 school year, HHES is projected to have 1,055 students?
Build a Second Elementary School to Alleviate Overcrowding
In Hockinson, it’s possible to have a small town feel with neighborhood schools. Hockinson School District has a bond proposal on the February 11, 2025 ballot to construct a second elementary school to address overcrowding at HHES.
Here are details about the second elementary school.
The second elementary school would be constructed on a 40-acre parcel of land adjacent to Hockinson Meadows Park. When the land was purchased in 2023, the district bought 40 acres for $700,000 from Clark County. Estimated Cost: $68.4 million minus state matching dollars & impact fees = $57.65 million project cost.
Make Safety Improvements at HHES, HMS & HHS, Including Lockdown Capabilities
Safety Improvements and Remodeling at the Existing HHES Site
In Hockinson, it’s possible to preserve rural peace of mind with modern safety upgrades. The following are priority remodeling and safety improvements.
Elementary School
-
Building Lockdown Functionality
-
Improved Traffic Flow
-
Elimination of Portable Classrooms
-
Campus Redesign to Maximize Instructional Time
-
Single Secure Entry
Middle School
Digital Emergency Messaging
A digital system at HMS would broadcast emergency alerts and guidance directly to classroom screens during lockdowns or other emergencies.
High School
Digital Emergency Messaging
Digital emergency messaging at HHS would allow emergency messages and instructions to be displayed in HHS classrooms during a lockdown or other emergency.
Replace the High School Track and Install Multi-Use Synthetic Field
The track and field would be used for athletics, outdoor physical education, marching band practices and performances, year-round community recreation, and more.
Hockinson High School (HHS) is the only school without an artificial turf stadium field in its 17-school Greater St Helens league.
Our current field does not meet the facility requirements for postseason football and soccer competitions. This means that our athletes have to travel and rent other facilities, adding unnecessary expenses to our athletic budget.
In Hockinson, it’s possible to host home games and postseason football and soccer competitions. This would reduce travel and rental expenses for our athletics program.
Add a Covered Outdoor Area at the Middle School
The February 11 bond includes the addition of a covered outdoor area at Hockinson Middle School. This space would offer students protection from the elements during lunch, recess, and physical activities regardless of weather conditions.
A covered outdoor area would offer a versatile, weather-protected space for students to spend time outdoors.
Add a Career & Technical Education Building at the High School
The proposed Career & Technical Education building at Hockinson High School would be a hands-on space for students to explore job readiness skills in classes like wood tech, construction skills, and more. Matching funds and in-kind donations have been offered from industry leader and philanthropist Douglas Green to support the project.
What would the CTE building at Hockinson High School look like?
Similar to recent CTE buildings at Ridgefield High School and Evergreen High School, this facility will provide a focused environment for job readiness training, offering tools and spaces for hands-on learning.
The practical needs of students learning trades is our top priority in building design. For this reason, the building would feature a simple steel design for durability and functionality.