Oregon City School District Board of Directors Votes to Place School Bond on Ballot
The Oregon City School Board of Directors unanimously voted to place a bond measure on the November 2024 ballot.
In 2018, voters approved a district bond that funded the rebuilding and remodeling Gardiner Middle School and Tumwata Middle School. This was the second phase of a three-phase long-range facilities plan. The first phase focused on rebuilding Oregon City High School, the second phase focused on expanding capacity for Gardiner and Tumwata Middle Schools. The third phase focuses on addressing the critical needs and repairs of aging elementary schools.
The Board’s decision followed a comprehensive review of an independent facilities assessment and extensive input from the community, including recommendations from over 30 members of the Community Bond Planning Committee and proposed project feedback from more than 120 community members.
If approved in the 2024 November election, 100% of the bond funds will be allocated locally for Oregon City Schools. These funds will be used to enhance safety and security across all elementary schools, address critical needs like installing new HVAC systems for improved air temperature and quality, and update and repair aging and inefficient building systems in six elementary schools built between 1948 and 1975.
Additionally, the bond would fund updates to learning spaces to ensure accessibility for all students, expand learning opportunities in flexible ways, and enhance career-technical education and classroom learning facilities at Oregon City High School.
"The average age of Oregon City's elementary schools is 62 years old and two are 76 years old," shared Michael Sweeten, Director of Operations and Capital Improvements. "These schools have original building systems such as heating, plumbing, and air conditioning that are failing. If passed, this bond will address these basic needs to create safe, secure, and efficient buildings for our community's youngest learners."
The $163 million bond measure would cost an estimated $1.23 per thousand dollars of a home’s assessed value. The Oregon City School District will ensure accountability through a long-term citizens oversight committee appointed by the Board of Directors to monitor bond project implementation.
Learn more about our bond by visiting www.ocschoolbond.org.
