64 percent of those asked support $24 million bond – Ontario Argus Observer

ONTARIO The Ontario school district bond promotion committee is continuing its efforts to promote a school district bond worth $24 million that will be up for vote during the May 16 special district election.

The committee is parent-run and consists of 30 to 40 members, said one of the groups chairs, Jamie Taylor-Blumer.

This new committee was formed in January shortly after the dissolution of the school district bond work group, which had been tasked with the planning and structure for the bond proposal.

One of the tasks the promotion committee took on was to help administer a pre-bond telephone survey from Feb. 1-14, Taylor-Blumer said.

According to the survey data, based upon answers of the 300 survey respondents out of 506 residences called, 64 percent of the respondents said they would support a $24 million bond at $1.50 per thousand with a $4 million match from the Oregon Department of Education.

The total proposed project sits at $28 million, with $24 million being asked for the bond and $4 million slated to come from the state, should the bond be approved on May 16.

The $4 million is a one-time thing, explained committee chairman Gerry Blumer. He went on to explain that because of current financial troubles being experienced with the state of Oregon, there is likely no second chance with this money.

The program providing the matching funding, the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching Program, has the Ontario School District ranked number one on a priority list for receiving the matching funds.

The bond promotion committee has also helped the district with creating an information brochure to hand out to parents during school functions. Included are financial facts, and tax and general information about the bond.

According to the brochure, approximately $20.1 million of the total $28 million will be spent on stadium light pole replacement, resurfacing of parking lots, relocation of the band room, upgrading building exteriors and complete window replacement, a complete locker room remodel, and a new gymnasium with a weight room and wrestling facilities.

Ontario High School has an existing gymnasium, but according to the school district, practice begins as early as 5 a.m. and ends as late as 11 p.m. for some sports in order to accommodate every athletic team.

Additionally, the proposal has stenciled in $7.9 million to be spent on security upgrades at Aiken, Cairo and Alameda elementary schools, along with a five classroom additions at Aiken, one classroom addition at Cairo, and two classroom additions at May Roberts Elementary.

The additions at the elementary schools are designed to address overcrowding at May Roberts and Alameda schools the only two elementary schools which enroll kindergarten through grade six.

The main goal of the committee, however, is engaging the community about the bond.

We just want people to be informed, Taylor-Blumer said.

In addition to parents from the committee spreading information about the bond, the group has also been in cooperation with community organizations including EUVALCREE, Lions Club, various assisted living facilities, and others in order to reach out to residents who might have limited access to a phone or a computer.

The bond would need to be approved through a simple majority on May 16, Blumer said. Should it be passed, residents would pay $1.50 per thousand of assessed value for the average Ontario home. An average monthly impact would be $12.50 per month.

The committee has two more meetings before the bond election, Taylor-Blumer said.

According to Taylor-Blumer, the measure number on the ballot will be 23-57.

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64 percent of those asked support $24 million bond - Ontario Argus Observer