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Woodburn School District 103 Referred to the People by the District Board Woodburn School District No. 103 General Obligation Bond Authorization Question: Shall the Woodburn School District be authorized to issue general obligation bonds not to exceed $40.5 million? 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: Passage of this measure would provide funds for capital construction and improvements and bond costs. Specifically, the measure would provide funds to: • Purchase property upon which to build the next elementary school • Construct a 500-student elementary school • Complete the planned expansion of Valor Middle School • Pay off loan for the expansion of the Woodburn High School annex • Expand the core facility of Nellie Muir Elementary School and add 10 classrooms • Pay fees associated with issuing the bonds. The Bonds would mature in twenty (20) years or less from issuance date and may be issued in one or more series. Explanatory Statement The Bond measure will allow the Woodburn School District to: Meet increases in our projected student enrollment over the next five to seven years by adding classroom space for 600 more elementary students, 300 middle school students and 350 - 400 high school students. Key components of the Bond: A Facilities Task Force comprised of parents, staff and community members spent eight months studying the facility needs of the school district and student enrollment projections. The Bond Measure reflects much of their thinking. • Purchase land and construct a new 500-student elementary school: In 1998, one year after Heritage Elementary School was built; all elementary schools were at capacity. Since then elementary school enrollment has grown by 420 students. As a result modular classrooms were added to each elementary school campus. With elementary enrollment projected to increase by another 500-600 over the next seven years, this school will serve those students in a community setting. • Expand the core facility of Nellie Muir and add 10 classrooms: Nellie Muir was built in 1963 for 300 students. It currently serves over 450 students using modular classrooms that are from 5-35 years old. The number of bathrooms, the cafeteria, gym and the library were not designed to handle the increased number of students. The Bond will allow us to add 10 classrooms and eliminate the need for the modulars. It will also provide a regulation gym and an expanded library. • Complete Phase II of Valor Middle School: When Valor was designed and built in 1996, it was with the idea that an additional wing of classrooms could eventually be added in the back. The bond will allow the District to complete this planned expansion by adding classroom space for 300 students, a music room and an additional gym. • Complete the expansion of the high school annex: Since 1998, high school enrollment has grown by over 400 students. It is projected to grow by another 350 - 400 students in the next five to seven years. A loan was taken by the district to add 12 more classrooms to the existing annex. The bond proceeds will be used to pay off the loan. Financial impact: The bond will not exceed $40.5 million. Approval of the bond will cost taxpayers an estimated $2.16 per $1,000 of assessed valuation the first year and $1.97 per $1,000 each year thereafter. Submitted by: Walter M. Blomberg, Superintendent Woodburn School District |