Bend-La Pine Schools’ 2016 Sites and Facilities teams, in partnership with the community, have developed a recommendation for a school capital construction bond request that proposes to address the following four major areas:

Provide Neighborhood Schools in High-Growth Areas:

Construct one elementary school and one high school to meet current and anticipated future overcrowding caused by decades of continuing enrollment growth[1].

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Maintenance and Preservation at Existing Buildings:

Nearly half of the District’s schools are more than 30-years-old, and projects are proposed to modernize these facilities. The bond funding would allow the District to replace leaking roofs and windows, and upgrade heating, ventilation, electrical, and plumbing systems. The bond would also allow the District to make money saving energy improvements to boilers, HVAC and lighting systems to many of its schools and facilities.

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Classroom Additions and Modernization:

Many of the District's classrooms were constructed decades ago. The bond would allow the community to add and renovate classrooms and support spaces at existing schools; including modernization of instructional spaces for science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics and physical education.

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Safety and Technology Improvements:

Make health and life safety upgrades including cameras, intercoms and entrance redesign to provide improved visibility of visitor access. Improve technology wiring and cabling to ensure students throughout the district have equal access to technology resources.

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Bond Details

Why?

More than half of the district’s elementary schools and all of the district’s high schools in Bend are near or over capacity, due to continuous enrollment growth[1]. Between 2000 and 2016, school district enrollment grew by more than 5,000 students[2]. According to state and local projections, this trend is expected to continue. In fact, Portland State University’s Population Research Center projects that our District should grow by almost 3,000 students in the next ten years[3].

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When?

The committee recommends that the Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors place a bond measure on the May 16, 2017 general election ballot.

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How Much?

Thanks to the continued retirement of existing bonds, the overall tax rate is projected to increase by .44-cents per $1,000 of taxable value annually, over the life of the bond. This amount is equal to an estimated cost of just over $7 per month on a home with a taxable value of $200,000.

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At Bear Creek, the proposed projects include:

• Replace roof on 'B' & 'C' buildings
• Improve drainage around building
• Replace single pane windows
• Add instructional multi-use space
• Secure main entry
• Improve classroom climate
• Improve drainage on 'B' playground
• Add card lock infrastructure
• Modernize HVAC controls
• Add kitchen
• Security cameras
• Access control
• Technology infrastructure

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Curious to learn more? Visit our Bond webpage for FAQ, a detailed map and more!

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  [1] October 1 Historical Enrollment, Julianne Repman, Oct. 1, 2016

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[1] Enrollment Projections, Brad Henry, Dec. 1, 2016

[2] October 1 Historical Enrollment, Julianne Repman, Oct. 1, 2016

[3] Portland State University’s Population Research Center report to Bend-La Schools, Charles Rynerson, November 2014

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