RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND PURPOSE CLARIFICATION

QUESTION: Can the District use existing general obligation bonds to pay for costs of a high school located outside District boundaries?

SUMMARY:

APPROVAL OF THIS MEASURE WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY NEW BONDS Or NEW TAXES.

In 1996 the District’s voters approved a bond measure to provide a “new” high school “in” the District. Despite serious efforts the District has not been able to acquire suitable land within District boundaries. Approval is being requested to allow spending funds from the District’s already issued bonds to pay the costs of providing a high school at a location determined by the District Board, without restriction as to whether the high school site is inside or outside the District’s boundaries.

The District’s existing bonds allocated to providing a high school will be used to pay for:

• A high school including any necessary or appropriate costs to acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, repair and furnish a high school for the District.

• Acquisition by purchase, lease or other means of appropriate real property.

• High school support facilities.

This Measure does not authorize any new bonds or new taxes to accomplish these purposes.


EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Riverdale School District 51J is requesting voter approval of a clarification relating to the voters’ approval in 1996 of general obligation bonds. The 1996 voter approval allowed the District to issue bonds for the purposes of renovating and replacing portions of the elementary school gymnasium and providing a high school for the District. The ballot title voted on in 1996 contained the statement that among the purposes of the bonds would be “Acquire land for, and construct, furnish, and equip a high school in the District.”
(Emphasis added.)

The gymnasium improvements have been completed and the gym has been in full use for some time.

At the time the District issued the 1996 bonds, negotiations were going forward to acquire a parcel of land inside of the District’s boundaries. Those negotiations failed. After that effort, the District started an extensive search for other available and suitable land both inside and outside of District boundaries. No suitable sites within District boundaries are presently available. Within the past year the District has had serious negotiations with the Portland School District regarding the District locating a high school at the former Collins View School site. This site is close to but outside the District’s current boundary.

The District has recently entered into a purchase/lease agreement with the Portland School District which would allow the District to purchase the Collins View School building and lease the site on a long-term basis. The District would remodel a portion of the building, tear down a portion of it and construct a larger new portion. If all required approvals cannot be obtained for this site, the District will continue to look for an appropriate site inside or outside of the District’s boundaries.

In 1996 the voters directed the District to provide a high school and authorized bonds to be issued for that purpose. After extensive efforts the District Board has determined that the most appropriate presently available site for a high school is located at Collins View outside of the District’s boundaries. The District is seeking this clarification as part of its continuing efforts to implement the directions of the voters that the District provide a high school program and facilities and in so doing continue the existence of Riverdale School District.

This Measure is merely a clarification that will allow the Riverdale School District Board to spend already authorized bond funds inside or outside of the District boundary. This Measure does not authorize any new bonds or new taxes to accomplish this purpose.

Submitted by:
Jim Mabbott, Superintendent
Riverdale School District 51JT


RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51-315JT

Measure No. 26-26

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Support Riverdale – Stop The Harassment – Vote YES on 26-26

In 1998, the Riverdale School District asked for and received a court ruling allowing it to use the existing 1996 bond proceeds outside the district for a permanent high school site. Now, those who wish to eliminate the Riverdale District have filed multiple lawsuits to overturn that ruling. By making this explicit change to the bond language, the District can go forward spending its dollars in the classroom – rather than in the courtroom.

  • VOTING “YES” WILL NOT INCREASE OUR TAXES.
    This is not a request for more money. It is a request to explicitly allow the board to use the existing bond funds to acquire and renovate a facility outside the District boundary.
  • VOTING “NO” WILL NOT DECREASE OUR TAXES.
    The current bond has no cancellation clause. It will have to be paid off regardless of what happens with this vote. Should this vote fail, and then the lack of high school site cause the District to fail, either Lake Oswego or Portland Public schools would get our bond money. We would still have to pay it off.
  • VOTING “YES” WILL FREE THE DISTRICT FROM THE TIME AND MONEY IT IS NOW SPENDING TO DEFEND ITSELF IN COURT. It will stop the legal harassment and allow us to get on with educating our children.

The District has spent five years reviewing over 100 sites inside and outside our boundary. Collins View is not just the best site, it is the only site where the politics, cost, land use and proximity all work. The Collins View site is great for Riverdale – it is close, it is available, it meets our needs. The added relationship with Lewis & Clark College for athletic facilities makes it even better. Finally, we have a permanent site for our exciting new high school.

Please vote “Yes” on measure 26-26.

(This information furnished by Kim and Gerry Langeler)

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.


RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51-315JT

Measure No. 26-26

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

The Lake Oswego Review applauds Riverdale High School and Collins View Site

In the January 11, 2001 edition of the Lake Oswego Review the editorial read:

“Perseverance has paid off for the Riverdale School District…Riverdale can now create a permanent highschool campus that will serve its own students as well as students from surrounding communities…the 1991 Legislature passed a meddlesome law requiring school districts to either offer a K-12 program or merge with another district. For Riverdale, a merger meant losing autonomy for its beloved grade school on Breyman Avenue. Rather than merge, the district set out to build a high school…Little did they know that the search would be comparable to Odysseus’ little trip home from Troy.”

“Most people would have given up the battle long ago, but Riverdale had community support, a tenacious school board, and a bulldog of a superintendent named Jim Mabbott. They simply wouldn’t give up.”

“Now that is has achieved a certain level of permanence, Riverdale High School has a unique program to offer potential students…In this age when parents and voters are demanding more choice in school environments, Riverdale presents an interesting blend between public and private…It will offer an alternative style of education for students from Lake Oswego, Portland and other towns, and will be an experiment in education worth watching.”

Riverdale High School has grown every year in its first five years. Enrollment is now over 100, about one-third of the way to its final target, even before a permanent site has been established. The Portland Business Journal rated the school second in the greater Metro area, based on state test scores. College acceptances are excellent. The LO Review got everything right but one thing. This is no experiment. It is working. Riverdale is not just worth watching, it is worth supporting.

Please help put the final piece in place and vote Yes on 26-26.

(This information furnished by Anna Wessinger Boggess)

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.


RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51-315JT

Measure No. 26-26

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Dear Friends,

I’ve been a member of this community for 35 years. I’ve seen my three children benefit from an excellent education in the Riverdale school system, and now have the joy of seeing those qualities repeated for my three grandchildren. These last thirty-five years have given me some perspective on Riverdale and our Dunthorpe community that I would like to share with you.

One thing I’ve learned in this neighborhood is that a “community” is not simply a collection of homes in a common location. A community happens when you have a congregation of people with a common purpose. Providing excellent education for the children of this neighborhood, through the special treasure we have in our Riverdale schools, has been the purpose that holds this community together. Without that glue, we would have long ago become just another Portland suburb.

When we faced the issue of statewide consolidation in the early 1990’s, this community decided to fight for its independence. We decided that continuing the quality public education and local control Riverdale provides and keeping our community’s purpose alive was worth the effort. To do so we had to create a high school. The fact that Riverdale is the only surviving district, statewide, from that period does not surprise me. This community has always pulled together when it mattered. However, now that we know we are the only ones to run that gauntlet successfully, perhaps the many unforeseen hurdles we have faced
shouldn’t surprise us, either.

Finally, however, Riverdale High School has a permanent site secured. The school is ready to roll. Please join me in taking the final steps to clear the way to make it successful, and make our community proud. Please vote YES on Measure 26-26.

Barbara Coit

(This information furnished by Barbara Coit)

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.



RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51-315JT

Measure No. 26-26

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Support Ballot Measure 26-26

As president of the Riverdale High School Parent Teacher Club (PTC), I urge Riverdale voters to VOTE YES on Measure 26-26. The successful future of our high school is at stake. We have finally approved a permanent site for our school and a vocal minority is distracting us. Several residents have opposed keeping Riverdale School District independent. Yet the vast majority of our neighbors have shown with their votes and their taxes that they support locally controlled education in our community. Let’s put an end to harassment and focus all of our attention and resources to providing excellent public education for our children. Together let’s get on with the constructive task of building an excellent high school, distinguished by its philosophy of education, small classes and rigorous requirements for graduation.

A Yes vote…

  • Will speed up the process to a new Riverdale High School.
  • Will not increase taxes.
  • Will allow our School Board and Administration to get on with the creation of a permanent facility for Riverdale High School.
  • Will save the funds wasted to fight frivolous law suits by a disgruntled minority of Riverdale residents, none of whom have children in our schools. Let’s spend our funds on our kid’s education, not on lawyers!
  • Will send a clear message that a large majority still desire and demand local control and excellence in our public education.

A NO vote does not save or reduce any tax dollars – it just encourages more lawsuits. So, please join me in voting for our community; for our schools; and for our children. VOTE YES ON MEASURE 26-26.

(This information furnished by Deborah L. Spanton)

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.


RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51-315JT

Measure No. 26-26

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Support Riverdale Bond Clarification

As president of the Riverdale Grade School Parent Teacher Club, I am involved in the enrichment and enhancement aspects of one of the most highly regarded school districts in Oregon. Almost daily there are newspaper articles that direct the changes in direction public education should take: smaller class size, foreign language, art, music, and physical education all as part of the curriculum. Riverdale is already functioning this way.

The bond measure our community passed in 1996 was supported not only for the preservation of what we and families before us had worked so hard to create, but to afford our children an extension of this excellence through their high school years. Who would not want their high school student to have the individual attention our high school staff is able to give? Even on its temporary site, increasing enrollment and high test scores have already earned Riverdale High a reputation for excellence.

Today, precious time and money is being wasted on dealing with legal badgering by a small adversarial minority who has chosen to fight the will of our community. Members of this group have admittedly no interest in the children of this neighborhood. They have no children enrolled in our district. They want Riverdale to disappear.

We must not let that happen. Our successful independent Riverdale School District is the very heart of our neighborhood. We passed the bond. We passed the local option. Now we anxiously await the renovation of our new high school in its permanent home.

This is NOT a tax increase
This is NOT a request for money

Measure 26-26 IS a reaffirmation to:

  • Maintain the continuity of excellent education we now offer through high school
  • Maintain the sense of community so many neighborhoods lack
  • STOP the waste of time and money on lawsuits so we may concentrate on raising and educating our children

Please vote YES!

(This information furnished by Sharon Place)

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.



RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51-315JT

Measure No. 26-26

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Dear Neighbors:

I hope you will join me in supporting the independence of the Riverdale School District by voting Yes on measure 26-26.

I have admired the diligence and fortitude of our elected School Board members as they have faced the daunting problems of finding a permanent site for Riverdale High School. I have also been glad to join with some 75% of our neighbors in contributing to the Riverdale Schools Foundation. I want to see these funds, as well as our tax dollars, used in classrooms and on playing fields where the children are, not on lawsuits.

I have had the good fortune to grow up in New England, where the Town Meeting was the center of political and community life, and the license plates still read, “Live Free or Die.” Without a vibrant, creative, and forward looking school district to focus our energies, this historic area could turn into just another bedroom community, four traffic lights along the strip into Portland.

Many of us who have lived in this district for quite a while have a favorite memory of Riverdale. Mine is of Mrs. Walter Babson, in her nineties, sitting in the sun in her wheelchair, watching a Riverdale Field Day on the three beautiful acres she and her husband gave to the school for a playground in 1927.

This spirit of generosity, of caring for one’s neighbors, and helping to provide for generations which others will live to see, has characterized this District for over 100 years.

Please join me in voting YES on 26-26.

Cordially,

Sylvia Breed Gates

(This information furnished by Sylvia Breed Gates)

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.



RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51-315JT

Measure No. 26-26

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Dear Neighbors,

As a founding member of the Riverdale School District Foundation and its current President, I have observed and been involved in the long fight to preserve our local schools. Throughout these years of involvement I have been consistently pleased by our district’s commitment to maintaining a quality education for our children. The support evidenced by voter approval for the original bond and the recent local option levy has been gratifying.

I have been amazed by the level of support for the Foundation, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from the local community since 1993 while demonstrating an impressive level of participation. Last year 78% of families with children in the school supported the Foundation and this number includes tuition and transfer students as well! In addition, the Foundation received contributions from over 40% of neighbors without children. Keep in mind that typical school foundations might get 25%-30% participation from families with children attending the school or district. We exceed those numbers even from folks without children at our schools!

The patience and solidarity of our community has helped the district to maintain quality education standards. Now, through the perseverance of so many, we are close to having a permanent site for our high school and preserving our district. As in the past, a small group seeks to derail this effort through whatever means are at hand. Despite the community’s clear indication of support through time, votes and dollars, some seek to overcome the intent of the voters through the courts.

The current proposal will clarify, once again, the community’s clear indication that we do care about our children’s education and that we see the preservation of our district as critical. I ask you to please come to the aid of our community and vote YES for ballot measure 26-26.

Sincerely,

Jim Coonan

(This information furnished by Jim Coonan)

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.


RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51-315JT

Measure No. 26-26

ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION

The Riverdale School District purports to seek “clarification” of a bond measure presented to the District voters in 1996. The “clarification” asks that the District’s Board have the authority to determine the location of a high school. The District’s Explanatory Statement cites the 1996 ballot title for the bonds as providing funding for a high school “in” the District. However, what the District does not say is that in calling for the vote on the 1996 bond issue, the District’s Board specifically said they would locate a high school “within” the District. The District now asks the voters to allow the Board to locate a high school wherever the Board so decides, whether within or outside the District’s boundaries. This is not a “clarification”, this is a change of what the voters approved in 1996.

The District’s measure also changes how the bond money can be used. In 1996 the District presented to the voters a plan to build a new high school. Now, the District seeks authority to spend the money to “reconstruct, improve, repair” a high school, that is, the District intends fix up old Portland Public School buildings at an outrageous cost. That is not what the 1996 voters approved.

The District has spent thousands of dollars in its fruitless efforts to locate a high school. A vote in favor of this measure will only result in a waste of more of the District’s resources and money. Enough is enough—the District should not be allowed to continue this waste.

(This information furnished by Arthur C. Piculell, Jr.)

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.



RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51-315JT

Measure No. 26-26

ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION

This new ballot measure by the Riverdale School District might sound innocuous, but it masks the real and serious problems underlying the very premise of the high school that the Riverdale School District wants to establish.

Consider some of the following facts:

Recent enrollment figures for RHS show only 102 students attending the school. Only 31 of these are residents of the district.

Fewer than 25% of the students of high school age living within the Riverdale School District boundaries attend RHS. Only one-fourth of the families with high school students who donated to Riverdale Foundation sent their kids to RHS. Perhaps most surprisingly, since the decision was made to create a high school, 11 out of 16 children of board members have attended other high schools.

Current state funding for public schools, coupled with Riverdale’s astounding $14,000 per high school student cost, leaves the taxpayers of the district to subsidize $9,000 for each resident and interdistrict transfer student, and $6,000 for each tuition student.

RHS must attract a large number of tuition-paying students to be viable; currently, it has only 14.

Projected enrollment for RHS at the proposed Collins View site is 350 to 360 students, which there is no evidence that the Riverdale district can attract.

Even the district’s most optimistic goal (90 resident students attending) means 260 to 270 students must come from outside the district.

Riverdale’s administrative costs are about 13%, compared to 6-7% for Lake Oswego and Portland public school districts.

The board has already announced that the Collins View site will require an additional $3 million, over and above the current bond, last year’s local-option levy, and Riverdale Foundation contributions nearing $1 million annually.

RHS’s financial instability makes it a threat to the very existence of the grade school we all want to protect. Superior options (notably a charter school) exist and should be vigorously pursued. Please, vote NO on this measure.

(This information furnished by John H. Garren, Treasurer, Riverdale Neighbors for Riverdale School)

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.



RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51-315JT

Measure No. 26-26

ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION

The ten year quest to create our own Riverdale High School is a failing effort that may ultimately cost us our valued neighborhood grade school. In its sixth year of operation, R.H.S. has only 102 of the 350-360 students needed to establish a financially viable high school and only half the number of students for which it is staffed. The district has been operating for the past few years with 30% annual budget deficits ($1.2 million). We have spent the last of our $2 million stabilization fund this year to offset this shortfall making us more dependent on private fundraising at a level many believe is unsustainable.

It is time to set aside pursuit of a high school and focus on a viable alternative for preserving our outstanding elementary school. The best option was provided when the Oregon legislature became the 37th state to pass charter school legislation two years ago. Under that law, a Riverdale Elementary charter school could have:

  • Local control and autonomy
  • Our own Riverdale nonprofit governance board
  • Financial support from our own Riverdale School Foundation
  • Development & implementation of a charter by Riverdale parents and board to determine class size, curriculum, budget, grade levels, etc.
  • Protection under the law against revocation of the charter

Per pupil cost at our grade school is almost half that of the high school. Although state school fund support for a charter would be less than we currently receive, State law makes charter schools less costly to operate. If excessive costs related to our high school operation are also eliminated, it is estimated that we would need to raise private funds through the Riverdale School Foundation at approximately $300-$400,000 per year.

The proposed Riverdale High School will only take us further down an already unviable route and diminish our future chances to preserve our grade school. Please, let’s put the future of the grade school first, and VOTE NO on this measure.

(This information furnished by Marty McCall & Connie Clark, Co-Chairs, Riverdale Neighbors for Riverdale School)

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.