By Mary Owen
The failure of local voters to pass the recent North Santiam School District $44.9 million bond measure means business as usual in schools that still need fixing.
The bond measure failed by 114 votes, 2,942 “no” votes to 2,828 “yes” votes or 50 to 49 percent.
“For the future, the district will be operating schools and providing the best education in old facilities that are in need of immense repairs with inadequate space and wiring,” said Mary Richards, administrative assistant to district superintendent Dr. Jack Adams and board executive secretary.
With voter approval, the bond measure would have been used to create safer schools, as well as provide additional classrooms and other upgrades.
The average homeowner would have paid about $378 per year or $31.50 a month for needed repairs and renovations.
“Our job is to provide a clean and safe environment for our kids, and we will do that to the best of our ability with what we have at any given time,” Richards said.
The district has no alternative, Richards said, but to continue to spend 8 to 14 percent of its general fund dollars on facilities instead of the average 4 to 5 percent, because of the continuous repairs needed to keep the buildings safe for students.
“The boilers that had to be replaced last year at Stayton High School cost the district over $250,000,” she said. “These are the type of big ticket items that must be replaced on a regular basis in old buildings.”
“Children will learn and research in libraries and technology labs that are not up to speed with 21st century expectations for learning,” she said. “And classrooms will continue to be crowded as enrollment climbs.”
Students will continue to eat in facilities with inadequate space, Richards added.
People must become informed about the condition of the district’s schools, agreed district officials, who were disappointed with the outcome of the bond issue.
“Those who went on the school tours saw firsthand the needs of the district and understood just how old and inadequate the current facilities are,” Richards said.
“People must start realizing that Mari-Linn School, Sublimity schools and Stayton schools are all part of one district, the North Santiam School District, funded by the state as one district and bonded for construction and renovations as one district,” she said.
“The district has one high school – Stayton High School – and all students from the communities of Lyons, Mehama, Sublimity and Stayton will all attend Stayton High School eventually,” she said.
As more students are added to already-crowded school rosters, the district will continue to purchase portables with general fund money that should be used toward student education, Richards said.
“We have no choice but to try again for another bond with four of our five schools over 60 years old,” she said.
“However, the board will need to meet in a workshop to discuss the next steps, evaluate the election results, and make a decision about when to run the bond again.”
