CAPTION: Issue Bonds to build and refurbish schools and address growth
QUESTION: Shall the District issue general obligation bonds totaling $33.4 million to finance new construction and capital improvements? 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: The Scappoose School District is experiencing aging buildings and a steady increase in students. The district continues to spend substantial amounts of tax money to maintain buildings that are old, asbestos laden and decaying. The district currently exceeds its student capacity in 5 of its 6 buildings. The bond will:
- Construct, equip and furnish a new middle school.
- Construct, equip and furnish a new Otto H.H. Petersen Elementary School.
- Construct, equip and furnish additional classrooms and a stage at Scappoose High School.
- Update fire suppression system, insulate and install new roof at Scappoose High School.
- Construct, equip and furnish additional classrooms and enhance the office area at Warren Elementary School.
- Construct parking lot revision at Grant Watts Elementary School to address safe access, enclose the breezeway and update the early warning fire system.
- Provide other improvements to the facilities of the District.
The bonds will mature over a period not exceeding 25 years from date of issuance and may be issued in one or more series.
NO "EXPLANATORY STATEMENT" WAS SUBMITTED
No arguments AGAINST this measure were filed.
Measure 5-104 | Scappoose School District 1J
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
BUILD OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE!
The Scappoose School District needs to solve three important problems:
UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT – Mold, earthquake stability, asbestos abatement. The current mold problem at Scappoose Middle School will never go away and is a concern at Petersen. We cannot expect our children to get a quality education when the school has to close the doors and send students, teachers, and staff home to avoid being exposed to an unhealthy environment. Expensive periodic cleaning is not the answer. Petersen and Scappoose Middle School need to be replaced. Keeping students away from school is no way to build our children’s future.
OVERCROWDING – All school enrollments, with the exception of Sauvie Island, have exceeded their capacity. There are too many students per classroom and some teachers are without a permanent classroom. This bond replaces Petersen School, adds four classrooms to Warren School, and shifts some students from Grants Watts School to the new Petersen School. When completed, all grade schools will be neighborhood K-5 grade schools. Scappoose Middle School is replaced. Scappoose High School gets ten additional classrooms, the first permanent classroom addition to the high school since it was built 30 years ago. Overcrowded classrooms mean less attention per student leading to less opportunity for our children. This is no way to build our children’s future.
HIGH MAINTENANCE – Passing this bond will reduce district maintenance costs in the future. Ceiling insulation will be installed at Scappoose High School significantly reducing the school’s energy bill. Replacing Petersen Grade School and Scappoose Middle School will eliminate mold problems ($250,000 spent in latest clean up) as well as asbestos and radon concerns. A higher percentage of the school budget will go to educating the children. This is the way to build our children’s future.
This is not a gold-plated solution. It meets the needs of our community: Safe schools, quality learning environment, more opportunities for our children.
PLEASE VOTE YES
“BUILD OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE”
(This information furnished by Jan Hildreth, Build or Children's Future)
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.
Measure 5-104 | Scappoose School District 1J
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
The voters of the Scappoose School District are being asked to approve this bond measure to make necessary replacements and/or updates to ALL of our schools. Our buildings are aging and can no longer adequately serve our most valuable community resource: our children.
We realize that this is a very difficult time, financially, for many families. Frankly, we aren’t fond of paying taxes any more than anyone else. We realize that we can accomplish so much for our children if we do it collectively. We firmly believe that NOT committing ourselves to these improvements will have a greater cost in the long run, both financially and educationally.
Our schools simply cannot meet our children’s educational needs. They are overcrowded and maintenance costs are increasing dramatically each year. We need to redirect those excessive maintenance dollars back to education.
We have the best students, teachers and staff that we have ever had, and each and every one of them deserves a safe, clean, and contemporary environment in which to teach and learn. All children rely on the adults in their communities to provide an education. Support this bond to improve the education of the future business owners, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, parents, and politicians who will be adults in our community one day. Supporting this bond may not be an EASY thing to do, but it is the Right thing to do. Thank you.
VOTE YES MEASURE 5-104
David Ruud, MD
Jan Hildreth
(This information furnished by David Ruud, MD and Jan Hildreth)
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.