Transcript Slide 1
May 16th Election: School Bond Timeline to the Bond The district has engaged in a thorough and thoughtful process and sought community input and involvement in deciding to place a general obligation bond on the May 16, 2006 ballot. DFAC •Facilities •Enrollment Dec. 2004 June 2005 The Champions of Education began looking at school needs several years ago and then the board formally chartered the a District Facilities Advisory Committee (DFAC). DFAC began meeting in Dec. Sept. March June December2005 2004 and presented their 2005 2006 2006 recommendations to the board in June 2005. DFAC included 32 citizens, who represented a broad cross section of our community. The group divided the work into two subcommittees, one examining facilities and the other focused on enrollment growth. Many members of DFAC devoted more than 100 hours each of their own time to examining schools and population and enrollment trends. The committee likened the school district to a “well maintained 1950 Buick” – it still runs, but at some point you need to replace some parts, and another vehicle is required to handle the crowd. Ron ReimersTom Cordier Jim McGowanKelly BackerBrian BeckerRich Caitlin David Faller Ron LoneyJill Mackey-Feist Dani McCaffertyMark McNabbKristi MurphyKevin Nicholson Randy PorterPat Richards Tim SmithMichelle Weber Darcy WinnJanet Steele Dick Running Helen Burns SharpWolf Dyner Ed HodneyRandy Lary Scott LepmanDavid MarkelChuck McLaran David Reece Lyle Utt Burl Wheaton Wayne Goates Bill O’BryanMartha Wells Timeline to the Bond After receiving the report from DFAC, the board began collecting additional community input. There were tours of all the schools and community input forums held at four of our schools. Board members addressed many community groups and collected input and the public was welcomed at board meetings and special work sessions to consider the bond. DFAC •Facilities •Enrollment Dec. 2004 June 2005 Collecting Community Input Sept. 2005 Dec. 2005 Community Input Forums School tours School board and community meetings March 2006 June 2006 Community Input • Priorities emerged: – Want schools to be safe and healthy places – Want schools equipped to prepare students for college and career – Want schools to be accessible for all, including our special needs students – Understand the need to update aging infrastructure – Recognize the need to increase capacity to meet growing enrollment needs • Citizens want assurances that the bond money will be spent as it was intended. The Board heard that citizens of the school district believe that “Quality schools are the backbone of our community, and the foundation of our local economy – both now and in the future.” Which wasn’t a surprise because it is the same thing the Oregon Values and Belief study confirmed: OREGON VA L U E S BELIEFS & • Quality education and accessible/affordable healthcare are the most important quality of life conditions for Oregonians • Oregonians identify education as the top priority for a healthy economy • Oregonians identify education as one of the three most important services provided by government • When asked what government service is more important, regardless of cost: consistently rank primary/secondary education as most important Timeline to the bond School started and the enrollment growth was even greater than predicted. School starts DFAC •Facilities •Enrollment Dec. 2004 A bond attorney reviewed the list of items to consider for the bond and ruled out those items that did not qualify. Enrollment Projections June 2005 Collecting Community Input Sept. 2005 Dec. 2005 Community Input Forums School tours School board and community meetings March 2006 June 2006 Timeline to the bond School starts DFAC •Facilities •Enrollment Enrollment Projections Cost and scope estimation Dec. 2004 June 2005 Collecting Community Input Sept. 2005 Dec. 2005 Community Input Forums School tours School board and community meetings The district hired a professional project management firm to refine the estimates from the DFAC committee and to review the project lists. Increased construction costs as a result of the hurricanes in the South East and additional code compliance items, raised theJune list of March 2006 proposed 2006 projects to $110 million. Using community input as its guide the school board cuts the proposed list of projects to the minimum required projects and places a $55 million, ten year General Obligation Bond on the May 16 ballot. Timeline to the bond School starts School Board sets bond amount DFAC •Facilities •Enrollment Enrollment Projections $110 million $55 million May 16, 2006 The election Cost and scope estimation Dec. 2004 June 2005 Collecting Community Input Sept. 2005 Dec. 2005 Community Input Forums School tours School board and community meetings March 2006 June 2006 Before we discuss what kinds of items the Bond will cover let’s review a current inventory of our schools. They are listed on the time line by the year built. Fir Grove Calapooia Memorial Fairmount Oak Grove NAMS Periwinkle Central WAHS 1915 1925 Clover Ridge 1935 1945 1955 SAHS 1965 1975 Lafayette Liberty Tangent No. Alb. Elem. Oak Sunrise South Shore Waverly Takena 1985 1995 2005 2015 Our buildings were not meant to last forever without major repairs and equipment replacement. Oak Elementary and six other schools have failing roofs. The 50+ year old showers in the locker rooms at West are riddled with dry rot. Oak Elementary and six other schools need a new roof The bond includes funds: • To replace roofs that are beginning to fail • For boilers that have long outlived their life expectancies • To replace windows that have warped and deteriorated after many years of heavy use This science classroom at West hasn’t changed much in 50 years, and in our middle schools science is regularly taught in regular classrooms because there are not enough science classrooms. The bond includes funds: • To update science classrooms • To improve the electrical systems at schools • To improve the library at West Albany • To install data projectors in classrooms When most of our schools were built, code required two electrical outlets per classroom. Schools should be handicapped accessible. All our students, including our physically challenged students and those with special needs, deserve Albany’s best. The bond includes funds to make sure that all our schools have handicapped accessible restrooms: • At least one set for each elementary school • Two sets for middle schools • Three sets for high schools Safe and healthy Gym floors which contain mercury are beginning to degrade. Hard surfaces like the track at West are worn out, and can’t be used as intended. The bond includes funds for: • Replacing old and failing water pipes • Improving occupant safety in case of fire and earthquake • Improving student safety during drop off and pick up (bus loops) • Fencing • Gym floor replacements • Asbestos removal The railroad tracks are less than ¼ mile from Tangent School and nothing blocks a student from running on to them. Number of students Continued growth is predicted through 2015. 11000 10000 9000 An increase of almost 1,000 students in the last ten years 8000 7000 19 79 19 82 19 85 19 88 19 91 19 94 19 97 20 00 20 03 20 06 20 09 20 12 20 15 6000 Actual Projected Capacity A new school has been proposed for east of I-5 which together with Clover Ridge will cover the K-8 education needs of those living east of the freeway. Additions and remodels to increase capacity are planned at nine other schools. Prioritizing: • the desire for safe and healthy environments • giving teachers the tools to prepare our students for college and careers • accessibility for all students • accommodating growth Update and modernize facilities, classrooms, and school buildings $ 15,436,420 Improve access to technology, update science labs and libraries 6,289,340 Upgrade heating and ventilation systems 3,122,879 Replace aging water pipes and upgrade fire safety equipment 1,588,369 Make schools more accessible for disabled and special needs children 2,273,603 Build additional classrooms, acquire land, construct and furnish a new school Other Issuance Costs 25,783,389 500,000 total $ 55,000,000 To assure taxpayers that their tax dollars are being spent wisely: The bond will be written so that the funds go directly where they are needed most – to the classrooms, to the schools buildings, and the most critically needed repairs and renovations. Not for teacher and administrator salaries Bond Oversight Committee (to provide independent community accountability) •Tom Gaulke •Mark McNabb •Wes Price •Ron Reimers •Lisa Shogren •Bruce “Buzz” Wheeler THE GREATER ALBANY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGES YOU TO VOTE Ballot Measure 22-53 May 16, 2006