School bond gets airing at town hall

In a lightly attended town hall meeting Wednesday, Superintendent Jim Golden explained the key reasons that the board is seeking a $14.5 million bond in November.

The facilities projects and costs detailed in the bond measure were put together by a citizens facility committee, which has been meeting weekly for the last several months.

Committee members Brett Hudson and Jerry Milstead spoke first for the committee. Both men have been involved in putting together the bonds and then project managing the construction for Redmond, and now for Crook County and Culver school districts where construction bonds have recently passed.

Hudson said, "The information in this bond was combed through. We looked at every line item. We looked at the 'have-to' and the 'like-to'. Our economy is getting stronger, but we are at a stage where we are just not ready for the 'like-to' yet. We really addressed the 'have-to' that we need to maintain our facilities so that they don't get to the point where we have to tear down and rebuild. (Instead) we can continue on with the pride that our children feel in our (school) facilities.

"If you look at the communities where Jerry and I have worked in the last five years, you will see that the pride in the communities after these projects are done, and the energy that it brings to those communities is amazing," concluded Hudson.

Milstead concurred with Hudson's description. He noted, "These facilities are ours. They are not Jim Golden's, they are not the school board's, they are ours. We've all invested in these facilities and we need to maintain them. It doesn't matter how good the teachers are. It doesn't matter how interested the children are in learning. If when it rains the water drips down on their heads or the heater doesn't work they are not going to learn."

Committee member architect Chris Mayes said, "You have to think about the health of the building. As it ages, what might cost $10 today might cost $20 down the road. If we keep kicking the can down the road, it is going to get worse."

Mortgage broker, planning commissioner, and committee member Cort Horner said, "Every dollar that I make, and every dollar that I spend, and every dollar that I pay in taxes; I want to know where it goes. It is important to recognize that this bond is specifically going to repair and upgrade facilities. Being a person that has done a lot of budget analysis I have to say I'm really pleased with what the team has put together. They have done an extremely good job on this."

Horner continued, "Something I pushed real hard for was an open discourse with the public. The fact that we are doing this (the town hall and the tours) is a credit to the district, and I'm glad I was able to be a part of this."

Referring to his education in England, new board member Stephen King said, "I went to school in England, and the school I went to was founded in 1150, and it had lots of creaky stairs. Part of me thinks 'What is the correlation between facilities and education?' To a certain extent there isn't a correlation. A great teacher can educate great kids and come up with a great result.

"However, there is a threshold," said King, "and it strikes me that we are below the threshold. I don't think we need the best facilities in the world to have the best education in the world for our kids. The part about the bond that interests me is security and technology," continued King. "We need to make sure our kids are safe. If we don't put the money in, they won't be. Technology is going to be more and more critical."

Several community members addressed the board. The majority of the comments were supportive of the bond, however, several were critical of the fact that the high school needed a new roof after less than 15 years of operation.

Golden pointed out that, to save money, a less expensive alternative "three-tab" roofing material was chosen at the time the high school was built. This has proved to be a mistake, but as Golden said, "Regardless of the reason why, the roof leaks badly and needs to be repaired."

All agreed that the Reed Stadium track and grandstands had deteriorated to the point of being a safety hazard. Not only is the facility not ADA compliant, but the rippled and buckled track surface has been deemed unusable for track this season.

Several other speakers spoke to the concept that, in a time of low interest rates the district might consider asking for more money, rather than just the bare minimum needed for urgent repairs.

To help the voters get a first-hand look at the conditions the bond addresses, Golden has scheduled two more facilities tours. The tours are scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, October 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Those interested in the detailed project spreadsheet can receive a copy by contacting the district office with their email address.