Sean C. Morgan
Sweet Home voters approved a $4 million bond during the May 16 election, which will allow the Sweet Home School District to receive a matching grant of $4 million in state funds to remodel Sweet Home Junior High.
The bond passed with 1,492 votes, 64.34 percent, to 827, 35.66 percent.
The bond will be used to move the junior high office to better secure the front entrance, remove and replace modular buildings, build a new cafeteria and gym, improve the roof and appearance. Additional projects include new heating and air conditioning controls, security improvements, hot water lines and windows in buildings across the district.
The bond will be paid off in 2029, with a possible smaller payment due in 2030. That’s the same time period originally projected to pay off an $18.1 million bond passed in 2001 that rebuilt the high school and a new wing of classrooms at Hawthorne Elementary.
The district shortened the term of that bond and reduced the overall property tax rate by refinancing the bond. District officials expect the tax rate to remain the same, depending on interest rates, and to pay it off in the same or nearly the same term.
“There was a lot of unique features in the bond that aren’t in previous bonds that were very compelling,” said Supt. Tom Yahraes. It doesn’t raise taxes, and the state is matching it with a 1-to-1 grant. “If we didn’t, these monies were going to go on to other counties.”
The projects also were compelling, Yahraes said. “It’s to remove, replace and renovate the Junior High for security and safety upgrades. We can make it a symbol of pride for the community.”
And students across the entire district will benefit as every student sixth grade and younger will go through that building, he said. Additionally, every other school will have safety and security improvements.
“Thank you to the Sweet Home community,” Yahraes said. “Thank you to the voters. Thank you to the board for encouraging us to put this bond together. Thank you to the political action committee.”
“Tickled pink,” said School Board Chairman Mike Reynolds. “It means good things ahead. All these youngsters (sixth grade and younger) are going to have to grow up and go through this nice facility.”
The idea of moving the office at the Junior High to the front, where visitors can be seen and let in is a good one, he said. “It’s a horrible set-up the way it is now.”
In other elections on the ballot, Chanz Keeney, Holley; Debra Brown, Cascadia; Jason Van Eck, at large; and Jason Redick, at large, ran unopposed and won new terms on the School Board. Jim Gourley ran unopposed for the seat held by Mike E. Adams, at large, who did not run for office again and leaves office June 30.
Jenny Daniels, Liberty, did not file and will leave the board on June 30.
Benjamin Emmert ran for the position on a write-in campaign. Results of the write-in campaign will not be available for at least two weeks from the date of the election.
Don Hopkins and Dawn Mitchell ran unopposed and won new terms on the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District Board of Directors.