Ballot Measure 3-577 - Lake Oswego School District

Lake Oswego School District - Measure 3-577

Ballot Title:

Bonds for improvements, curriculum support facilities, safety upgrades, address overcrowding.

Question: Shall District upgrade, construct, modernize facilities, address overcrowding, improve safety, accessibility, career education and issue $180 million general obligation bonds?

If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.

Summary: Lake Oswego School District will receive State matching funds of $4,000,000 only if bonds are approved.

Bonds are expected to fund:

• Construct new school buildings
  • Lake Oswego Middle School
  • River Grove Elementary
• Modernize classrooms
  • Renovate high school labs for expanded STEM, Career Technical Education
  • Replace outdated computers
• Address priority capital repairs
  • Replace roofs
  • Enhance, repair HVAC, electrical, plumbing systems
  • Upgrade finishes
  • Seismic upgrades for immediate occupancy
  • Asbestos abatement
• Improve accessibility
  • Improve walkways, restrooms, parking lots, playgrounds, entrances
• Safe, secure campuses
  • Update fire alarm, monitoring, broadcast systems
  • Upgrade door hardware
  • Add secure glass
• Site improvements, demolition, furnishings, equipment, bond costs.

This $180,000,000 bond is projected to cost an additional $0.92/$1,000 of assessed value annually. For the median home assessed value of $420,000, that is approximately $385 per year. Actual rates depend on market conditions when bonds are sold. This measure is on the ballot now because the District expects costs to increase. Bonds would mature not more than 26 years from issuance and may be issued in series.

Explanatory Statement:

What

Lake Oswego School District has placed a capital bond on the 2021 ballot. This bond is the second phase in a planned three-part construction and capital improvement program. The bond would provide funds to: rebuild a middle school; rebuild an elementary school; modernize science, technology and engineering labs at the high schools; and address priority capital repairs, improve accessibility, and make safety and security upgrades in facilities districtwide.

If the bond measure is approved, the District will receive $4,000,000 in matching state grants.

The Bond Development Committee, led by citizen volunteers, reviewed the Long Range Facility Planning Committee Strategic Plan, educational adequacy and school facility condition assessments, and projects contemplated as part of a three part construction program. The committee made recommendations based on present and future facility needs. Guided by the committee’s recommendations and feedback from community outreach and voter polling, Lake Oswego School Board of Directors propose that bond funds, if approved, be used to:

• Construct New Buildings and Relieve Capacity Constraints: Rebuild Lake Oswego Middle and River Grove Elementary Schools to eliminate portable classrooms, relieve overcrowded classrooms and common areas and support best practices in education; new buildings would be constructed to immediate occupancy standards in a seismic event and include right of way improvements to parking lots, sidewalks and neighborhood traffic patterns.
• Increase Opportunities for CTE and STEM: Renovate, update and equip science, engineering, and computer labs at high schools to support new and expanded STEM and Career Technical Education programs. Replace outdated computers throughout the district.
• Address Priority Repairs to Preserve Community Assets: Enhance HVAC systems to improve air quality, repair aging electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems, and repair interior and exterior finishes to preserve integrity of buildings throughout district; additionally, upgrade kitchen to support meal service for students, construct seismic upgrade for immediate occupancy, and conduct asbestos abatement at Palisades Elementary School; and replace deteriorating roof at Lake Oswego High School.
• Improve Accessibility: Make accessibility improvements to walkways, restrooms, parking lots, playgrounds, gardens and entrances throughout District to ensure all students, staff, and community members can have access to public buildings.
• Improve Safety and Security: Throughout the District, update fire alarm and sprinkler systems; install additional cameras for sight improvement and video monitoring; update campus communication broadcast systems; upgrade door hardware; and add

intrusion-limiting glass.

Aging school buildings with inadequate, outdated, unsafe, inefficient and overcrowded classrooms and common areas. New school buildings will increase capacity while providing students and staff with safe, welcoming and modern learning environments.

The bond measure will fund targeted capital improvements at all schools and improve building systems to enhance efficiencies. The bond measure will also fund classroom expansion and renovation conducive to career-based learning.

This bond is for $180,000,000 and is projected to cost an additional $0.92/$1,000 of assessed value annually. Actual rates may vary based upon market conditions when the bonds are sold and changes to assessed value.

Submitted by:
Jennifer Schiele, Superintendent
Lake Oswego School District