February 3, 2020 10:50 a.m.
The Sutherlin School District has begun a bond campaign.
A release from the district said the school board agreed to the move in an effort to improve learning environments and safety through the district. The release said if the bond levy is passed, funding would address some of the district’s top needs.
On January 13th, the board approved putting a $22 million bond measure on the May 2020 ballot. It would go towards funding $26 million in identified projects. The release said a successful measure would allow the district to receive an additional $4 million in matching grant funds from the state’s Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching Program.
Superintendent Terry Prestianni said “the decision to pursue this level of funding was based on careful consideration of the feedback we have received from our community as well as the goals we have for our district and its future”.
The release said the projects the board has identified would improve safety and security for students, teachers, and staff, and would also improve energy efficiency throughout the district. They include:
*Replace West Intermediate School with a new two-story academic building on district owned property on Umatilla Street.
*Complete repair and maintenance projects on buildings district-wide, including but not limited to roofing, paint and siding.
*Construct secure entryways, with fencing and camera systems to increase safety for students and staff.
*Replace windows in the middle school to improve energy efficiency, and security and safety.
*Improve communications systems between buildings for safety.
Prestianni said the bond will allow the district to extend the life of the district’s current resources, “which we understand our community cares deeply about”.
The release said if the proposal passes, community members would pay an estimated $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property tax value. That means a property owner in the district with property assessed at $200,000 would pay approximately $268 per year, or an additional $22.32 per month. The bond would go into effect in January 2021.
Prestianni will talk more about the proposal on Inside Douglas County Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. on News Radio 1240 KQEN.