Good education is the single most important goal. Money is limited.

Vote NO on proposed $17.9 million bond! It has already failed three times. It reflects old 1996 planning and poor choices. Elementary students need a new $ 7 million dollar school, now. It isn’t proposed. Proposed spending provides expensive space, where it isn’t needed. A grade school will still be needed, even if $ 17.9 million is spent.

Because sewer construction brings new homes and more students, Aumsville and Turner are growing more than expected.

A $7 million elementary school would help the most kids, now, for the least money. It assures kids, teachers and families, neighborhood access to school and also technology, that’s costly to put in old buildings. An additional $1 million could repair dry rot and other damage that is part of $1.63 million of avoidable, deferred repair at Aumsville.

500 students can be served at Aumsville Elementary; Fifth and sixth grade students are transported to other schools, because there isn’t room. Kids spend extra time on a bus, have more opportunity to get into trouble, and have less time for homework or for other interests.

220 students can be served at Turner Elementary; Turner receives about 90+, Aumsville 5th graders and buses 25 sixth graders to the Cascade campus, each day. Growth in Turner may over-run capacity in a few years. A new elementary school may be fully occupied, when complete.

West Stayton, Marion and Cloverdale families prefer small elementary schools. Small size and high cost, force Aumsville and Turner youngsters to endure long bus rides. Duplication of food, academic specialists, transportation, maintenance, and administration costs could be avoided. There isn’t enough money to support the tiny schools. Wise spending means more and better education for all.

Vote NO. Let’s first build a new elementary school, with all essential code compliance issues resolved.

Respectfully, T. J. and Juanita Schaffer

(This information provided by T. J. and Juanita Schaffer)