The North Santiam School District Board has charged a Long Range Facility Master Planning Committee with a number of tasks designated to improve facilities over the next two decades.
“I’m excited to get the process under way,” said Andy Gardner, superintendent. “The committee is large, but I think it represents our area communities really well, and is a great mix of people who have served on past facility committees as well as new members.
“The group is community-minded, thoughtful, and the NSSD School Board and myself feel very lucky to have such a diverse, experienced and intelligent group come together and engage, learn, and make recommendations for the future of our communities and our schools,” Gardner said.
The committee started the ball rolling at its first meeting on Oct. 2 by reviewing the tasks ahead, including implementing a community-based planning process to address facility needs for 2020-2040.
The committee will also develop recommendations and cost estimates for phased facility improvements, according to Gardner.
The plan will take into account that the district will continue to operate its five schools in each community in their current configuration with only minor modifications.
“At the conclusion of the process, the committee will recommend to the board an updated comprehensive long-range facilities master plan and present its recommendations, if any, for specific school facility improvements, a bond measure and election date if necessary,” said Gardner.
The district has been awarded a $4 million State Bond Matching Grant should the committee recommend a bond for May of 2020. The Oregon School Capital Improvement Match Grants were instituted by the State of Oregon four years ago to assist districts in passing construction bonds. Funding is contingent on passing a construction bond, but a $4 million boost to bond expenditures that won’t be assessed to local property owners will help a potential bond go further.
The district must pass a bond to receive the funds, earmarked for facility improvements.
“New developments are being built in both Stayton and Sublimity,” said Gardner. “The district sees the new School Improvement Funds as a great opportunity to put programs in place to help our families and communities. However, the district will need to increase space to create facilities like a career center at the high school or pre-school classrooms at the community elementary schools.”
The Long Range Committee will meet monthly at the Stayton Elementary Cafeteria through March. The public is welcome to attend. For information, contact the district office at 503-769-6924.
“This is the third facility planning committee that I have worked with in the district,” Gardner said.
“I am always impressed by the level of engagement and the high value that the members have placed on keeping our community strong. The group is diverse, thoughtful and represents our various communities in a lot of ways. I am looking forward to the entire process.”
