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345 SE 5th, Madras, OR 97741 | 541.475.2275
School District 509-J will be putting a $26.6 million bond levy before voters, based on the recommendation of the facility planning committee.
At Monday night's board of director's meeting, Superintendent Rick Molitor outlined the recommendations of the committee, which was made up of a cross-section of school staff, parents and community members.
The group met six times between November and January to tour school buildings, look at needs, and discuss priorities.
Warm Springs school
Talk about a bond levy began in the spring of 2011, as 509-J and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs hammered out a plan to get a new K-8 school built in Warm Springs.
A 20-acre site in the Greeley Heights area of the reservation (behind the museum) has been set aside for the new school.
Under the agreement, 509-J and the tribes would split the cost of the new school. The cost to the school district for a new school would be $10,736,300.
During the presentation, committee member George Neilson said, "This is a unique opportunity to join with the Confederated Tribes to improve the education of our children." Neilson also reminded people, "Quality education is the cornerstone of economic development."
Performing arts center
The committee reviewed additional needs to maintain and update district facilities and put a 600-seat performing arts center at the top of its list. The cost would be $7,980,000.
Teacher Carrie McPeak and Madras Primary Principal Kathy Bishop mentioned that the district's long-range building plans had promised that "Phase 2" would be the building of a performing arts center. (Phase 1 was the remodeling of Madras High School and districtwide improvements at Buff Intermediate and other schools).
"An arts center was promised," Bishop said, noting her school would use the center for musical and other performances. "There is not enough gym space at our school for all the parents," she said.
"Of all the things we debated in the committee, the performing arts center was on the proposals both times," agreed committee member Brian Shepherd.
Board Chairman Brad Holliday commented, "That's a lot of money for something that's an unknown in this community. But I know my family makes two trips to (the auditorium in) Prineville for dance performances, and I'd love to have them held here. There would also be opportunities for performances from Portland or Eugene to come here."
A majority of high schools in Central Oregon have similar-sized performing arts facilities on campus.
Capital improvements
The committee selected lists of improvement projects that needed to be made at each school, amounting to a total of $7,931,422.
Included were:
Madras High School: a new track, resurface the tennis courts, replace football stadium, new roads next to the football field and baseball fields, repair parking lots, HVAC upgrade in gym, new practice field, repair alarm system, card lock system, varsity soccer bleachers and scoreboard.
Committee member Mack Gardner emphasized the group's expectation that, "If we redo the track and tennis courts, the board will maintain it as good stewards of our tax bonds."
Jefferson County Middle School: resurface the track, remove carpet and install tile, repair asphalt, card lock system, put acoustic panels in commons, add athletic storage, new scoreboard.
Buff Intermediate: pave north parking lot, reroof building, repair asphalt, card lock system.
Metolius Elementary: replace parking lot, HVAC air system, replace windows, provide ADA access, upgrade electrical panels, add insulation and fire sprinklers, card lock system.
Westside Building: reroof annex, replace asbestos tile, add fire sprinklers, card lock system, new gym floor, upgrade lighting, add insulation.
Madras Primary: replace staff parking lot, replace exterior walls, provide handicap access, upgrade lighting, remove asphalt and replace with other surface, card lock system, replace glass block windows.
Maintenance and transportation: repair asphalt, wastewater capture system, storm water management districtwide.
"Our funding goal was that there be no increase to the current level of taxes," Molitor stated of the $26.6 million bond levy.
Tax rate
Outlining how that will be accomplished, Molitor said the 1993 JCMS construction bond, for which property owners currently pay $1.46 per $1,000 of property value, ends in 2013.
The 2002 MHS remodeling bond ends in 2022 and currently costs taxpayers $1.58 per $1,000. Together, that amounts to a total of $3.04 per $1,000 in costs to the taxpayer.
"We want people to pay this, and don't want to increase taxes," Molitor said.
Figuring a 19-year bond for $26.7 million, Molitor said the tax rate would range between $1.45 to $2.94 per $1,000 at the highest through the life of the bond (ends in 2032), "Which stays under the $3 goal we had," he said.
The board voted to accept the facilities committee's recommendation, and will begin seeking community input on the proposal. The bond will go up for a vote in the May 15 election.
"I looked at my tax rate of $322 -- that's just $27 per month. For the price of two pizzas, I can afford to support this bond," said Gardner, adding, "We reaped the benefit of previous residents (who paid for schools) and I'm willing to ante-up."
