BTA III PlanningBuildings, Technology and Academics
BTA III PlanningBuildings, Technology and Academics
Thanks to Seattle voters, the 2013 capital levy was approved. Please visit the BEX website to learn about projects funded under the Building Excellence capital program, approved by voters in 1995, 2001 2007, and 2013.
Teacher and Students
Seattle Public Schools staff and School Board members have been working to prepare two levy renewals to place in front of voters on February 9, 2010, as a special election.
Detailed information can be found in the Levy Information Brochure.
The first, a three-year operating levy, accounts for about a quarter of the district’s day-to-day operating budget and supports education services not fully funded by the state. Every dollar raised through this levy pays for programs and services that support student learning and promote academic achievement.
The second, a six-year capital projects levy, entitled Buildings, Technology and Academics III (BTA III), is part of the District’s long-range plan to upgrade and renovate aging school facilities on a planned and predictable timetable. (BTA is one of two SPS capital levy programs. The other, Building Excellence (BEX), is on an alternating six-year schedule so that voters are asked to approve one capital levy every three years.)
BTA III projects will benefit every school in the district.
The Buildings component includes roofs, exterior renovations, interior finishes, ADA/life safety, mechanical systems, electrical systems, site/playgrounds, seismic upgrades, waterlines, unreinforced masonry (URM), and green buildings upgrades.
The Technology component includes data management, school services, technology infrastructure, classroom services, IT infrastructure, business operations and data management. The technology component improvements are a big part of what makes the academics and buildings components work.
The Academics/Athletics component includes early learning classrooms, CORE 24 computer/Science rooms, special education therapy spaces, computer labs, textual materials adoption, athletic field replacement, program placement needs, elementary school lunch rooms, conversion of TVs from analog to digital, skills center, STEM school, educational technology tools and technology licenses for assessing students’ academic growth.
The planning process for the levies began with the creation and adoption of the Facilities Master Plan.
In October of 2008, community informational meetings took place. School and community input was requested, collected and reviewed. A facilities analysis was conducted by Meng Associates and completed in April 2009.
The analysis includes potential academic and technology projects necessary to support the SPS five-year strategic plan. That plan, Excellence for All, outlines Seattle Public Schools’ commitment to ensuring an excellent education for every student, so that they graduate from high school ready for college, careers and life.
A financial analysis also completed in April 2009 gave scenarios for district taxable assessed values through 2016. Community engagement meetings took place on May 5, 7 and 9, 2009, followed by School Board work sessions on May 13 and June 18.
The School Board approved action to adopt “Board Guidance and Principles for BTA III Levy Planning” on July 1, 2009. This document ensures that BTA III levy planning follows the School Board’s direction, provides consistency, direction and guidance for this effort, and sees that the District’s strategic plan, Excellence for All, serves as overarching guidance for the BTA III levy planning, and planning for the next Building Excellence (BEX) levy in 2013 and beyond.
BTA background information is available on the BTA III levy planning Web site.
The School Board will continue to convene Operations Levy and BTA III Capital Levy work sessions. Other information will be shared with students and parents, community, PTSA and other organizations, the board and school staff members.
Three community meetings were held on September 22, 24 and 28 to share levy information with the public and answer questions. A presentation provided information on planning for the Operations Levy and the BTA III Capital Levy. This included how the levy amount is calculated and how much it might cost taxpayers. You can download a copy of the presentation here.
Levies February 9, 2010 Supporting Seattle's Children
Handouts at the meetings included a summary of the 2010 Levies information and DRAFT lists of potential BTA III projects. These proposed project lists will continue to change as details are worked out and the levy amount is finalized. A handout also listed all of the major capital improvements made with monies that came from the Buildings, Technology and Academics and Building Excellence capital programs between 1997 and 2009.
All of the handouts are available by clicking these links.
Seattle Public Schools Levies 2010 Summary
BTA III Summary $240 Million Dollar Capital Levy Proposal
BTA III Summary $270 Million Dollar Capital Levy Proposal
Completed BEX and Major BTA Projects 1997-2009
The School Board held a work session on BTA III planning on October 7, 2009. The presentation and draft project list proposals from that work session are available below:
Levies February 9, 2010 Supporting Seattle's Children (PowerPoint Presentation)
BTA III Summary $253 Million Dollar Capital Levy Proposal (project list)
The School Board held a work session on October 14, 2009.It was a continuation of the October 7 work session.You can download the presentation and materials by clicking the links below.
Levies February 9, 2010 Supporting Seattle's Children (PowerPoint Presentation)
BTA III Summary $253 Million Dollar Capital Levy Proposal (project list)
Completed BEX and Major BTA Projects 1997-2009 (map and project list)
Board Introduction of BTA III Levy
The BTA III levy proposal was introduced to the School Board on November 3, 2009. A Board Action Report and a proposed project list are available here:
Resolution 2009/10-4 BTA III Capital Levy Program Proposal 2010-2016
BTA III Proposed Project Description, Budget and Schedule
Public Hearing and Board Vote
A public hearing regarding BTA III levy was held November 12, 2010. The board appoved the levy proposal at the regular school board meeting on November 18. Minutes are available in the Board Archives.
BTA background information is available on the BTA III levy planning Web site.