BALLOT TITLE:
CAPTION: Parkrose School District Levy to Maintain Teachers and Classroom Support
QUESTION: Shall district maintain teachers, classroom support; by requesting levy of $1.25 per $1,000 assessed value for five years beginning 2025? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.
SUMMARY: Parkrose School Districts is asking for a local option levy that will bring in an estimated $3.6 million in the first year and is projected to fund approximately 28 teachers and classroom support staff annually over five years.
This local option levy would:
● Support a well-rounded education for Parkrose children, including career and technical programs and enrichments and electives, so students graduate with college and career ready skills.
● Provide classroom supports, such as educational assistants and reading specialists for students struggling with academic or emotional behavioral health issues.
● Help maintain class sizes and prevent significant increases across the district. Levy rate proposed is $1.25 per $1,000 assessed property value.
No levy funds will be spent for administration. Funds will be kept in a separate account/fund with; independent community oversight to verify that funds are only used as approved by voters.
The levy will raise an estimated $3.6 million in 2025-2026; $3.7 million in 2026-2027; $3.8 million in 2027-2028; $3.9 million in 2028-2029; and $4.1 million in 2029-30.
The estimated tax cost for this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the best information available from the county assessor at the time of estimate and may reflect the impact of early payment discounts, compression and the collection rate.
PARKROSE SCHOOL DISTRICT LOCAL OPTION
Explanatory Statement:
The Parkrose community is in a key moment for change — to build a strong future for our children — and our whole community. Parkrose School District currently serves over 2,800 students in six schools and other programs throughout Portland. We are proposing this local option levy to ensure all students we serve have the support they need.
Over the last fourteen years, Parkrose graduation rates have risen 13 percentage points with 82% of our students graduating, which is above the statewide average. However, the last four years have presented immense challenges. Through it all, the school district has continued to serve students and prioritized using taxpayer resources wisely and responsibly.
Our schools need our support now more than ever.
To keep class sizes low, to better support struggling students, and to build career and technical programs that will help give our children strong futures, we need consistent and continued support.
If passed, the levy will produce an estimated $3.6 million for Parkrose School District beginning in the school year 2025-2026.
No funds from this local option levy will be used for district administration.
The Levy will:
Fund teachers at every school in the District
- Save and fund approximately 28 teaching and classroom support positions annually over five years—nearly 15% of all teaching positions in the district
- Provide academic supports, such as reading specialists for students who are struggling
- Support career, technical, science, technology, engineering, and math programs, including computer science education so students can graduate with the skills necessary to be career or college ready.
- Give Parkrose students a well-rounded education, with enrichments for elementary and middle grades, and electives in varied interest areas for high school students.
Allow funding for other classroom support positions
- Fund other classroom support positions such as educational assistants and special education certified personnel to help identify and support students with mental or behavioral health or academic issues, and other needs.
Continue to provide fiscal accountability and independent oversight
- School district leaders continue to ensure that dollars are spent well and focused on the classroom while advocating for a greater level of state investment by the Legislature. This local option requires independent community oversight that will ensure tax dollars are used only for purposes approved by local voters.
- Funds will be placed in a separate account/fund to ensure their correct use and accurate reporting.
Levy will propose a tax rate of $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value
- The local option levy will be for a period of five years.
- For a home at the current average assessed value of $250,000, the levy cost is $26.04 per month, or $312.50 per year.
The estimated tax cost for this measure is an estimate only based on the best information available from the county assessor at the time of estimate and may reflect the impact of early payment discounts, compression and collection rate.
Submitted by:
Michael Lopes-Serrao, Superintendent
Parkrose School District