Marion and Polk Counties are among the fastest growing in Oregon. One impact of this growth has been an increase of nearly 7000 new students being added to Salem-Keizer Public Schools in the last 10 years. Projections indicate that 700 new students will arrive each year for the foreseeable future. As we began the 1997-98 school year, 29 Salem-Keizer Schools were at or over capacity.

Two citizen-based committees made up of nearly 200 patrons identified short and long-term responses to the Districts facility needs. While the short term needs are being addressed by adding more portable classrooms ( 124 portables are in use this school year), the recommended long-term solution is to add a new high school in West Salem, a new middle school in Keizer, and approximately 152 elementary classrooms in neighborhood schools throughout the District.

Additional improvements were also recommended at existing schools to make schools safer and correct program deficiencies. Improvements would include upgraded science labs, increased electrical service to support instructional technology and changes to office/corridor configurations to improve student supervision. These changes to existing schools will improve security and support the Districts efforts to raise academic standards. The proposed bond measure includes funds to pay for new schools and improvements in existing schools.

The estimated cost of the proposed bond measure is $1.43 per thousand dollars of assessed property value for the first year. The rate will decrease as the bonds are retired over a 30-year period. This means that if voters approve the proposed bond measure, owners of property assessed at $100,000 will pay about $12 a month for new schools and improvements financed by these proposed bonds. The rate will decrease after that.

Property owners around the District will share responsibility for these schools. As new people move into the area, they will also pay the bond debt.

Failure of the proposed bond measure could require the District to consider the following alternatives:

Increase class size;

Continue to purchase portable classrooms;

Rent space in commercial buildings; or

Double shift schools so that some students are free during the day and in school in the evening.

Submitted by:

SalemKeizer School District

Communications, Community and Governmental Relations

No arguments opposed to this measure were filed.