A rendering of the two-school, one campus model as proposed by the White Salmon Valley School District’s Facilities Planning Committee.Â
Contributed graphicWHITE SALMON — White Salmon Valley School District (WSVSD) will ask voters to consider two measures in February 2026: a renewal of the Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy and a $77.8 million bond to create a unified K-12 campus.
The EP&O levy renewal would continue existing local funding that supports programs and staff, including teachers, counselors, athletics, arts, and student support services. The three-year levy represents approximately 16% of the district's annual budget.
The proposed bond would modernize aging facilities and consolidate all students onto a single campus with separate K-6 and 7-12 schools. The project would unlock approximately $34 million in state construction assistance funding, bringing the total project budget to $112 million. The estimated bond rate is $1.66 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
"This represents a critical window of opportunity for our community," said Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn. "Due to declining enrollment trends for our district and how the state calculates construction assistance, waiting beyond 2026 would cost the district millions in state funding that won't be recoverable in future bond cycles."
The unified campus would enhance safety through controlled access, create modern learning environments with improved ventilation and energy efficiency, and provide shared athletic and performing arts facilities for students and the community. To manage the tax impact, the district will not renew its expiring Capital Projects Levy, which currently collects $1 million annually.
The proposal was developed by a Citizens Facility Advisory Committee that met eight times between October 2024 and led by a Citizens Facility Advisory Committee that met eight times between October 2024 and May 2025, ultimately reaching a unanimous consensus on the recommended approach.
Ballots will be mailed to voters around Jan. 23, 2026. The election deadline is Feb. 10. For more information, visit the 2026 Bond & Levy Content Page or contact the superintendent's office at rich.polkinghorn@whitesalmonschools.org.
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