Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home School Board on Monday approved a resolution to send a request for a $4 million bond levy to School District voters May 16.
If the bond is passed by voters, the district has qualified for a $4 million matching grant from the Oregon School Capital Improvement Program, providing a total of $8 million that would be used to fund a major construction project at Sweet Home Junior High School and smaller improvements at each of the other schools in the district.
According to the district’s projections, the new levy would not increase current property tax rates. The district has refinanced its existing bond levy twice, which will allow the current bond to be paid off in full in the 2026-27 school year instead of the 2028-29 school year. If the proposed bond were approved by voters, it would likely extend the payoff date for both of the district’s bond measures back to 2028-29, with a possible partial payment in 2029-30.
“This is a half price sale for Sweet Home to be able to accomplish much-needed work,” Business Manager Kevin Strong told the board Monday evening during the School Board’s regular meeting.
“It’s our recommendation to pursue a $4 million bond,” said Supt. Tom Yahraes.
Based on feedback from a series of public meetings, the majority of funds would be used to complete several major projects at the Junior High, while each of the other schools in the district would receive $150,000 to $200,000 in funds to address their most significant safety, security and facility needs, Yahraes said.
Maintenance Supervisor Josh Darwood recommended to the board that it use bond funds to replace the existing satellite buildings at the Junior High.
The modular structures, including the art room and cafeteria, are nearly 50 years old and have uneven floors that cause tiles to pop off. Outside, they have rot, and the mechanical systems and structures are failing. The buildings would be replaced with new attached buildings.
The project would include a new office at a new main entrance, improving security at the building, he said. Right now, the main entrance leads straight to the hallways and is not easily visible from the school office.
It also includes replacement of electrical and plumbing infrastructure; provide a slope and drainage for the main roof, which is sloped inward, causing water to pool on the roof; new siding and windows, which are single-pane and have rot around them; and development of safe drop off zones for parents and buses to deal with the congestion that currently exists.
The district will likely reach out to the Safe Routes to School Committee for input on solving the current congestion problems at the Junior High, Darwood said.
Yahraes said the Junior High was selected for the majority of the project because of the needs there, feedback from the public, and because it will impact the greatest number of students as most students in the district are funneled through the building.
At the other schools, the bond will focus on safety and security improvements, including locked entrance areas and automatic lockdown capabilities as well as a variety of individual needs at each building.
Those projects will likely be handled in-house by Darwood and his staff, Yahraes said.
The district will continue to seek alternative funding sources to complete as much additional work as it can, Yahraes said.
The goal is to extend the functional life of the school at least another 50 years, Strong said.
After the completion of bond projects, the district would continue to pursue grants and set aside savings in long-term maintenance to address critical facility needs, especially at elementary schools, Strong said, and to allow for enrollment growth if local housing construction remains steady.
Longer term, after 2028, the district will need to address aging satellite buildings, such as B and C buildings, the art room and vocational education buildings, at Sweet Home High School, Strong told the board.
With the board’s approval, the district must submit the measure by March 16, Strong said. By late March, the district will identify specific improvement projects at the elementary schools and High School as well as fine tune the plans for the Junior High. In late March and April, the district will provide informational fliers about the scope of the proposed work.
Ballots are mailed to voters on April 26, and the election is May 16.
If approved, the district would select an architect in late spring or summer and then sell bonds in the fall. In the fall and winter, the district would select a general contractor for the Junior High project.
Construction would begin in June 2018 and end in August 2019. Projects at other schools would be completed from June 2018 to August 2020.
Voting to pass the resolution were Mike E. Adams, Jason Van Eck, Jason Redick, Chairman Mike Reynolds, Angela Clegg, Carol Babcock and Debra Brown. Absent were Chanz Keeney and Jenny Daniels.
In other business, the School Board:
n Approved a contract with Gerding Builders for the High School auditorium seismic upgrade project. The project is covered by a $1.42 million state seismic grant and may be coupled with up to $25,000 in additional funding already dedicated by the board and around $6,000 raised by the Sweet Home Auditorium Remodel Committee for improvements inside the auditorium.
Gerding, which was the sole respondent to a request for proposals, will serve as construction manager and general contractor, working with district officials to design the project then building the project.
n Received a report from Yahraes on the transition to a five-day week.
The five-day transition team, including principals and union presidents, met for the fifth and final time on Feb. 9, Yahraes said. It has developed recommendations, based on surveys of parents and staff.
“They kept student learning as the centerpiece,” Yahraes said.
The next step is to hold a parent meeting and then prepare a calendar based on the committee’s recommendation and the feedback from the parent meeting.
From there, the district will bargain with the unions. Upon completion of the bargaining, the board will vote on a final recommended calendar.
n Accepted resignations from Richard Sugerman, fourth grade, Holley, effective Feb. 3; Susie Routes, counselor at Foster and Holley, effective June 30; and June Lemke, SHHS counselor, effective June 30.