BALLOT TITLE
GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND AUTHORIZATION
QUESTION: Shall Gresham-Barlow School District 10Jt be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $45,000,000? 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: This a measure may be passed only at an election with at least a 50 percent voter turnout.
If approved, bonds will finance:
• Technology infrastructure for all schools and operational efficiencies/facilities upgrades resulting in improved lighting and electrical/data wiring.
• Essential renovation and expansion at Gresham High School of the library, cafeteria, classrooms, counseling center, and gymnasium facilities, serving approximately half the District's students; improvements will prolong the useful life of the school and add instructional space.
• The construction, equipment, and furnishing of Professional Technical/Learning Centers to relieve overcrowding at the middle and high schools.
• The construction, equipment, and furnishing of one or more Early Childhood/Kindergarten Centers to relieve overcrowding.
• The construction, equipment, and furnishing of a new West Gresham Grade School to replace that school and provide space for 500 students.
• Additional capital improvements that will result in renovated instructional space, property, safety, heating, ventilation, and electrical systems and a central warehouse/office structure.
Associated building and bond issuance costs are included.
Bonds would mature over a period not to exceed 20 years with repayment structured so that new taxpayers will assist in paying for the bond measure.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
FACILITIES CHALLENGES
Gresham-Barlow School District currently faces a number of challenges related to its facilities. It must deal with:
• steadily increasing enrollment
• schools that are at or over student capacity
• safety concerns
• upgrades required to prepare students for the future
• the need to maintain quality while conserving community resources
WHAT WOULD IT PROVIDE?
The proceeds from this bond measure will enable the Gresham-Barlow School District to address these challenges. Approval of the measure will permit the GBSD to:
• increase high speed connections to the internet in all classrooms
• add 30 classrooms across the district
• construct an Early Childhood Education/Kindergarten Center
• rebuild West Gresham Grade School on its current site creating a facility which provides more space for student learning and addresses safety concerns.
• develop learning centers for Barlow and Gresham High students and for selected middle school students
• renovate and remodel Gresham High School, extending its life for the next 20 years
• make major capital improvements at all district schools
• implement cost-saving efficiencies throughout the district
WHAT ARE THE KEY CONSIDERATIONS?
The proposed bond measure supports efficient and effective use of resources by:
• addressing essential technology infrastructure
• funding renovations that protect the public's investment in current facilities and that extend the life of old facilities
• relieving current overcrowding and preparing for further growth
• providing for capital projects that conserve resources over time, like electrical upgrades that reduce energy costs
It supports increased safety for students and staff - and safety in the community by:
• rebuilding several school entrances, adding lighting, and providing for seismic upgrades
• providing early intervention programs for the community's youngest children
• allowing for increased opportunities through which kids will become solid citizens
The proposed bond measure would create small learning centers that could result in:
• fewer student dropouts
• more students productively engaged in school work
• greater overall safety for those living in our community
HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST?
The principal amount of the bond will not exceed $45 million. The terms of the bond will not exceed 20 years with repayment structured so that new taxpayers will help in paying for the bond measure.
It is estimated that property owners will pay 72 cents per $1,000 assessed value in the first year of the measure, with the rate declining as it is paid off. For a home assessed at $175,000, that cost is estimated at $10.50 per month. Costs will decrease over time as property values increase and new taxpayers share the cost of the bond.
Submitted by
Gretchen Schuette, Superintendent
No arguments AGAINST this measure were filed.
GRESHAM-BARLOW SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10JT
Measure 26-5
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
The Gresham Area and East Portland Chambers of Commerce Public Affairs Councils endorse the Gresham-Barlow School District's bond measure. This measure addresses school and community safety issues plus educational commitment to children. A successful business community depends upon efficient, effective use of taxpayers' resources. Please support our schools with your vote.
Efficient Use of Resources
The measure: addresses technology infrastructure; funds renovations that protect the public's investment in current facilities and that extend the life of old facilities; relieves current overcrowding and prepares for enrollment growth; and provides for projects that save resources over time. All of these projects are accomplished for a cost equivalent to the cost of a new high school_A MODEST INVESTMENT NOW WITH LARGE LONG-TERM BENEFITS.
Safety for Staff and Students_and in our Community
• The measure includes rebuilding several school entrances, additional lighting, and seismic upgrades
The early intervention programs in the kindergarten center and the additional classrooms at several elementary schools will result in:
• more kids in our community on their way to solid citizenship
• greater safety in our community for all residents
The learning opportunities for high school students in small learning centers and in less crowded high schools will result in:
• fewer student dropouts
• more students productively engaged in school work
• greater safety in our community for all residents
Invest in Our Children's Future Through Strengthening the Quality of Education
The measure will:
• provide greater attention to the needs of elementary students through keeping the size of our schools small and maximizing opportunities for individual attention to our youngest children
• ensure better preparation for middle and high school students through small learning centers and through reducing overcrowding at our large high schools
• create better instructional support through major facilities changes for our oldest high school and our oldest elementary school and through improvements at schools throughout the district
(This information furnished by Carol Nielsen-Hood, Gresham Area and East Portland Chambers of Commerce Public Affairs Councils)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
GRESHAM-BARLOW SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10JT
Measure 26-5
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Bond Measure Includes Needed Safety Components
There are many reasons why Isupport the Gresham-Barlow School District's proposed $45 million bond measure. Taken in its entirety, it will help maintain the excellent quality of education the community's students have received for many years. The district needs our support for this measure.
Primary among my reasons for supporting the measure are those components that focus on safety. First, improved exterior lighting will be provided at several schools. That lighting will reduce vandalism and it will also help keep students, staff members, and patrons safe when they are at our schools. Next, several of our older schools would receive seismic upgrades making it more likely that they would remain standing in the event of an earthquake, thus preventing injuries and, perhaps, saving lives.
An equally important component of the measure is the continuation of the district's efforts to move all main offices to a location near the front entry of the school. Doing so would make it very difficulty for undesirable individuals to get into the schools, thus making them much safer.
Give Our Kids a Bright Future and a Chance at Success
The measure also includes an early childhood education/kindergarten center where young children would get an even stronger start to their school years. In my opinion, this stronger start would definitely pay off in years to come when these students would be experiencing greater success and looking forward to a brighter future. Young people with bright futures would make our community safer.
Just as important is the community learning center designed to help middle and high school age kids stay in school longer. This center would help our least successful students achieve the success they deserve. Again, this would make our community safer.
The bond measure would bring greater safety to our schools and to our community. Join me in voting YES for Measure 26-5.
(This information furnished by Bernie Giusto)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
GRESHAM-BARLOW SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10JT
Measure 26-5
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Business People Support Maintaining Quality Education
Good schools make our community a wonderful place in which to live and our public schools have a long history of providing an excellent education. We want that history to continue.
Between the two of us, we have eight kids who have either completed their education in Gresham-Barlow schools or are in the process of completing it. They have received a very high quality education, but we believe that to maintain that quality, the community must approve the $45 million bond measure on the May 16 election ballot.
That bond measure includes several components that would prepare our students for the future. For one thing, the measure would ensure that all district classrooms are ready to take advantage of a high speed link to the internet and access to the tremendous wealth of information that source provides. That high speed connection will soon be brought to the front doors to our schools through other funding sources, but if our schools are not rewired, it will not be possible to connect every classroom. The bond measure would pay for the needed rewiring.
Other components of the bond measure would also help our students prepare for a brighter future. Among them is the Center for Advanced Learning, a facility for focused high school students who want to specialize in a professional/technical area such as: medical & health careers, information technology, and pre-engineering & manufacturing. Those students would spend part of their day at the Center and the other part at their home high school. Besides the obvious benefits for participating students, overcrowding at our two high schools would be relieved. Students from Reynolds and Centennial High Schools could also attend the Center, thus spreading the costs. This would be a winner for the entire area.
There are many reasons to support Measure 26-5. Please join with us and vote YES.
(This information furnished by Michael R. Miller and Suzanne C. (Sue) O'Halloran)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
GRESHAM-BARLOW SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10JT
Measure 26-5
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Protect The Investment We've Already Made
We are both longtime residents of the Gresham area. Our children attended schools in this community. As parents, we made a considerable personal investment in our school district, both financially and in terms of volunteer time. We are now asking that you join us in efforts to maintain the high quality of education we helped promote by voting YES on the Gresham-Barlow district's proposed $45 million bond measure. Approval of the bond measure is essential to protect the more than $200 million investment the community has already made in its schools and to prepare students for the future.
Among the features of the measure we appreciate are the district's attempts to maintain and protect its current buildings. Rather than asking for a huge sum of money ($45 million) to build a new high school in the downtown area, the district is asking for about $9 million to renovate and upgrade Gresham High School. Such renovation will prolong the life of GHS for another twenty years.
The district is also proposing extensive remodeling to several other schools, again to protect the investment already made. Even rebuilding West Gresham Grade School makes sense because of its age. Each year the district pours many dollars into that 78-year-old structure. A new West Gresham, on its current site, would result in a considerable savings in repair and maintenance costs, and it would provide improved opportunities for children.
The district is also asking for money for improved heating and cooling systems that will save money in the long run. The new, more efficient lighting proposed in the measure will also result in savings.
Finally, investing in technology infrastructure so that our students will be prepared for the future is an absolute must. Technology is changing our world. Gresham's kids need to be ready!
From a business perspective, all of this makes sense. We urge a YES vote on Measure 26-5.
(This information furnished by Stan Morris and Mary Zoe Petersen)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
GRESHAM-BARLOW SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10JT
Measure 26-5
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Good Schools Requires Additional Classrooms
Our four children all graduated from the Orient schools and Barlow High. They received an excellent education. Even though they have gone on to other pursuits, we still believe we must work to maintain quality schools in our community. That's why we're asking that you join with us in voting for Measure 26-5, the Gresham-Barlow School District's $45 million bond measure. It will provide the funds needed to build classrooms for growth expected in the eastern part of the district and it will provide programs designed to give many of our students the extra help they need to be successful.
Added Classrooms in Several Locations
We support the bond measure because it will create 30 additional classrooms across the district. Those classrooms will be in the several new or remodeled facilities: the Early Childhood Education/Kindergarten Center, West Orient Middle School, a new West Gresham Grade School, and a remodeled Gordon Russell Middle School. Some will be at the Community Learning Center planned for students needing focused help in a smaller environment. Some will be at the remodeled and renovated Gresham High School. Some will be at the Center for Advanced Learning that will be designed to help some of our most able high school students pursue areas of specialization in preparation for further education.
All of these new classrooms will provide relief from overcrowding, thus making conditions better for teaching and learning in all schools.
We also support the measure because it saves tax dollars. It proposes renovating existing facilities and protecting the investment we have already made in our schools. It proposes sharing costs with neighboring districts and with MHCC. It calls for extending the life of Gresham High School instead of building a new school.
Most of all, the measure will position the district to prepare kids for a changing world. Young people are our future. We need to help them be successful. Vote YES on measure 26-5.
(This information furnished by Linde and Pete Eidenberg)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
GRESHAM-BARLOW SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10JT
Measure 26-5
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
I encourage your support for the Gresham-Barlow School District Bond Measure. In this measure, the district reaffirms its commitment to children and to their success in school.
The proposed measure includes addressing safety concerns at several schools and a rebuilding of its oldest elementary school, in large part to address traffic safety issues and other seismic and safety issues in the current, aging structure.
Both high schools and many other schools would receive attention because of the district's commitment to address safety concerns, support greater community use of school facilities, and to complete projects that improve the quality of instruction.
Very important throughout the county is the health and wellbeing of our youngest citizens. The Gresham-Barlow district has taken this opportunity to propose facilities that will significantly contribute to the best start in school for our community's children. The programs for youngsters made possible by the new facilities, and the classrooms that will be available if the bond measure passes, will contribute to reducing numbers in the classrooms of grade school children and enable greater attention to the needs of three to five year olds as the district strengthens its partnerships with pre-school providers.
Also very important is the focus on adolescent youth in the opportunities that would be created for middle and high school students. As the research shows, we need to reduce the number of students in our very large high schools. With the passage of the bond measure and creation of the small centers it proposes, Sam Barlow and Gresham High would be less crowded, families throughout the district would have new learning options for their children, and, in the high schools and in the learning centers, more students would be actively involved and supported in preparing for future education and work.
Please consider your important role as a voting citizen. Only you can help address some of the resource needs of your local schools. Please vote yes for this measure.
(This information furnished by Sharron Kelley)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.