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North Santiam School District 29J Referred to the People by the District Board North Santiam School District General Obligation Bond Authorization Question: Shall the North Santiam School District issue general obligation bonds not exceeding $49,800,000 to expand and improve school facilities? 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: This measure provides funds to add classroom space to keep pace with student enrollment growth and renovate and improve existing school buildings. Specifically, this measure will: • Construct, equip and furnish one new elementary school on Stayton Middle School site to relieve District elementary schools’ overcrowding. • Construct new classroom space at Sublimity Elementary and Stayton High School. • Construct and remodel library and cafeteria space at Stayton, Sublimity, Mari-Linn elementary schools and Stayton High School. • Renovate, upgrade existing schools to protect the community’s investment in facilities. Improvements include: • Replacing leaking roofs, outdated heating, ventilation, fire alarm and plumbing systems. • Removing dry rot and asbestos hazards. • Seismic upgrades, health and safety improvements in all schools. • Remodeling locker room space at Stayton High to bring locker rooms into compliance with federally mandated requirements of Title IX and Americans with Disabilities Act. • Pay all associated building and bond issuance costs. Bonds will mature not more than 21 years from the date of issuance and may be issued in one or more series. Explanatory Statement North Santiam School District 29J faces a number of problems as a result of: INCREASING ENROLLMENT OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS INADEQUATE FACILITIES Proceeds from this bond measure would enable North Santiam Schools to: • Keep pace with rapidly increasing enrollment, • Maintain quality education for the District’s 2,400 students and future students • Protect the community’s investment in its schools. Voter approval of the bond measure would permit North Santiam Schools to: Relieve overcrowding and maintain quality education • Build one new elementary school • Add additional classrooms and related educational space at Sublimity, Stayton and Mari-Linn Elementary schools and • Stayton High School to keep pace with increasing enrollment and maintain quality education Protect the community’s investment in North Santiam schools • Repair, renovate, expand and improve the District’s existing elementary, middle and high schools and other facilities. These improvements would replace/repair leaking roofs; upgrade security and fire alarm systems, electrical wiring, lighting, heating and ventilation systems and parking; make other health, safety and seismic improvements and meet Americans with Disability Act requirements • Repair or upgrade various classrooms and building infrastructure components to restore efficient building operations and cost-effective services necessary for the delivery of the District’s educational programs Keep pace with growth North Santiam School District is one of the fastest growing school districts in Marion County. Its growth rate equals more than one classroom each year. More classrooms are needed to keep pace with this student enrollment growth. This bond measure would build one new elementary school to house 300 students and relieve overcrowding at the District’s existing elementary and middle schools. The new elementary school will be built on the Stayton Middle School site. This bond measure would add classrooms and related education facility improvements at existing buildings. These improvements would include additions of a media center, new multipurpose gym, new auditorium space and cafeteria space. The principal amount of the bond issue would not exceed $49,800,000. The term of the bond would not exceed 21 years from the date of issue and may be issued in more than one series. Project Costs The initial tax rate is estimated to not exceed $3.20 per $1,000 of assessed value or $320 per year for property with an assessed value of $100,000. While tax rates may vary depending on interest rates and the growth in the District’s total assessed value, the District anticipates the tax rate will decrease over the life of the bonds from the projected tax rate of $3.20 per $1,000. Submitted by: Doug Middlestetter, Assistant to the Superintendent/Business Manager North Santiam School District No. 29J |