The Vashon Island school board is expected to vote tonight on a resolution to put a $47.7 million bond measure before voters next November, 10 months later than the board had previously discussed.

The board, in what ap-pears to be a consensus, de-cided it made more sense to

delay the election and ask voters to approve the measure in November rather than February. The hope, said board Chair Bob Hennessey, is that the economy will have measurably improved by then, making it more likely Island voters will approve the district’s request to rebuild portions of Vashon’s aging high school.

“A lot of us still have some unease about asking the community for millions of dollars in this economy,” Hennessey said. “We’re all betting the economy will be better off a year from now.”

The board will vote on a resolution about the bond measure at a special meeting at 6:45 p.m. tonight at McMurray Middle School. The resolution calls the measure the first of a two-phased proposal. The first phase focuses on constructing a new classroom building; the second phase is expected to address the school’s dilapidated gym.

Hennessey added that it makes sense for the board to vote now, rather than later, on a November measure because it’s reached a consensus.

“The time is ripe,” he added.