Cheney, Wash. — Cheney Public Schools is asking voters to approve two replacement levies in November to support ongoing operations and facility improvements as the district expands its infrastructure.
The Education Programs and Operations Levy will fund after-school programs and special education services. A separate levy for security and infrastructure improvements at other schools will also appear on the ballot. Together, the two replacement levies will cost approximately $2.20 per $1,000 of assessed property value if approved by voters.
The district is also working on building a new elementary school in Airway Heights, a project funded by a $72 million bond that voters approved in 2024. The new school will have the capacity to serve up to 500 students and is designed to address overcrowding at existing elementary schools in the district.
“Really the focus was, we want to get students out of portables at our elementary schools that are over capacity,” said Ben Ferney, superintendent of Cheney Public Schools. “So at this point we’re going to be able to pull our students out of portables, and they’re going to be able to attend school within the buildings.”
Airway Heights is the fastest-growing area within the Cheney Public Schools district, according to Ferney. The new elementary school will feature a larger gymnasium and cafeteria area to host events and will replace the need for portable classrooms that have been used to accommodate enrollment growth.
Construction on the new school began in March, and the building is expected to open in fall 2027.
Once the new building opens, the district will need to maintain the facility and its equipment, which is where the proposed levies come into play. The levies are designed as replacements for existing levies, meaning they will not increase the overall tax burden on property owners.
In fact, if both levies pass, the property tax rate is expected to decrease slightly. The current rate of $3.93 per $1,000 of assessed property value would drop to $3.90 per $1,000 of assessed value.
“I think every day kids coming to school and having good experiences, families having good experiences at our schools, we need to earn that every day,” Ferney said. “We’re not resting on any laurels. We have to continue to give opportunities for our kids to learn.”
The district’s approach reflects a broader commitment to maintaining educational quality while managing growth. The new elementary school represents a significant investment in the district’s future, while the proposed levies ensure that existing facilities and programs continue to meet student needs.
Voters in the Cheney Public Schools district will decide on both levies during the November election. The district encourages community members to learn more about the levies and the new school construction project before voting.
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