December 18, 2017 - School Board Considers Input on Second Revised Bond Package
After three special meetings to review feedback from the community and staff on the base bond package, and receiving additional information regarding special education program needs at high schools, seismic review panel information, land acquisition needs and other program considerations, the School Board asked staff to again revise the bond package, considering the following guidance:
- The total amount of the bond is not to exceed $620 million
- Focus on alleviating overcrowding, including classrooms and infrastructure
- Prioritize health and safety projects that will benefit the most students
- Consider incorporating as much as possible from the content areas that were presented to the Board after the base bond proposal was developed
- Use the polling data and analysis to insure the recommendation is in alignment with community support and represents a cost-effective approach
December 12, 2017 - School Board Considers Input on First Revised Bond Package
At its December 12, 2017 meeting, the Board heard the first reading of a revised package totaling $619.7 million and includes the following changes, and others:
- Expands the current Auburn Elementary School rather than builds a new school
- Reduces the number of special education classroom additions at the six traditional high schools by one
- Places new classrooms near their content counterparts in schools (i.e., new science classrooms next to existing science classrooms)
- Plans for an increase in cost escalation
- Adjusts the construction schedules to perform more work early in the life of the bond
- Expands West Salem High School to accommodate 2,100 students instead of 2,000
- Constructs a new main gymnasium at North Salem High School
The $619.7 million general obligation bond was estimated to increase the current property tax levy rate by $1.24 per thousand of assessed property value, or about $248 per year on a home valued at $200,000.
Fall 2017 - Bond Measure Listening and Learning Forums
In the fall of 2017, parents, staff and members of the community were invited to attend one or more of six Listening & Learning Forums about the bond. Meetings were held at each traditional high school. Attendees heard a presentation about the bond and then met with school principals and Facilities & Planning Department staff to view concept maps, talk about projects planned for each school and ask questions. Feedback was collected at the Forums and was compiled into a report for the School Board.
May 2017 - Revised Bond Package
The School Board responded to the community’s feedback by asking district staff to reduce the size of the bond package. Staff revised and recalculated the list and presented a smaller package to the School Board at the end of May 2017. The revised package was about 19% less than the original package and totaled around $620 million. This revised package was the basis for the School Board’s continued work to finalize the bond measure. The School Board voted to place a bond measure on the May 2018 ballot and continued to work on finalizing the bond package.
Spring 2017 - Bond Feasibility Study and Community Poll
The School Board accepted the Community Facilities Task Force report and instructed district staff to perform a bond feasibility study. The study was conducted in a phone survey of Salem and Keizer residents. The intent of the survey was to determine the community’s priorities for district facilities and willingness to support the work through property taxes. The results of the poll showed that the community is supportive of addressing the facility needs of the school district, but has concerns about the cost. In the survey, the community indicated support for a tax increase between $1.51 to $2.50 per thousand of assessed property value to pay for the work.
