General Obligation Bonds to Construct Classroom Space, Upgrade Schools

QUESTION: Shall North Santiam School District 29J issue general obligation bonds not exceeding $38,300,000 to expand and improve its 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 may be passed only at an election with at least a 50 percent voter turnout.

If approved, this measure would:

· Acquire land and construct, equip and furnish one new elementary school in Stayton.
· Construct new classroom space at Sublimity, Stayton High and Mari-Linn schools.
· Construct and/or remodel media and cafeteria space at Stayton Elementary, Mari-Linn and Stayton High schools.
· Construct and remodel auditorium space at Stayton High School.
· Construct a new gym and cafeteria space at Sublimity School.
· Add restroom space to buildings throughout the District.
· Replace leaking roofs, outdated heating, ventilation, fire alarm, plumbing systems as well as gutters, down spouts and soffits; remove dry rot and make other health, safety, seismic, and asbestos improvements throughout the District.
· Remodel locker room space at Stayton High to address Title IX and the Americans with Disability Act.
· Pay all associated building and bond issuance costs.

Bonds will mature in 21 years or less from issuance date and may be issued in one or more series.
 

Explanatory Statement:

Proceeds from this bond measure would enable North Santiam Schools to:

• Keep pace with rapidly increasing enrollment,
• Help to maintain educational standards for the District’s 2,421 students and
• Continue the community’s investment in its schools.

Voter approval of the bond measure would permit North Santiam Schools to create additional classroom space:

• Build one new elementary school.
• Add additional classrooms and related educational space at Sublimity, Stayton, Mari-Linn Elementary schools and Stayton High School to keep pace with increasing enrollment and help to maintain educational standards for the District.
• Acquire land in Stayton for elementary school site.

Continue the community’s investment in North Santiam schools

• Repair, renovate, expand the District’s existing elementary, middle and high schools and other facilities. These improvements would replace 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.
• Replace or upgrade existing portable buildings and support facilities to provide permanent structures 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. Build more classrooms to keep pace with this student enrollment growth.

This bond measure would build one new elementary school to house 450 students and create additional classroom space at Stayton Elementary and Stayton Middle School.

This bond measure would add classrooms and related education facility improvements at existing buildings. These improvements would include computer and science labs, library space, new multipurpose gym, new auditorium space and cafeteria space.

The principal amount of the bond issue would not exceed $38,300,000. The term of the bond would not exceed 21 years from the date of issue and may be issued in more than one series.

The initial tax rate is estimated to not exceed 94 cents per $1,000 of assessed value or $94 per year for property with an assessed value of $100,000. This will increase over the life of the bond to a projected tax rate of approximately $2.67 per $1,000 of assessed value or $267 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 $2.67 per $1,000.

Submitted by, B.J. Hollensteiner, Superintendent