School bond issue built with care and no fluff

The Klamath County School District has a $31 million bond issue on the May 21 ballot that speaks to all of those points, especially the welfare of the students and the educational atmosphere in the schools.

The district is playing catch-up with much-needed renovations and repairs, focusing on improvements that will last at least 20 years — the life of the bonds. A tax levy of 53 cents per $1,000 in assessed value would be used to retire the bonds. That comes out to $53 a year for someone who owns property with an assessed value of $100,000.

The “neighborhoods” involved in the widespread school district include small communities such as Gilchrist, Bonanza, Bly, Chiloquin, Keno, Merrill and Malin. The county district, however, also serves some of the urban area’s most heavily populated neighborhoods with three large elementary schools, a junior high and two high schools in the suburbs and close-in rural area.

All of the schools would get needed help from the bond issue’s projects, which range from completely replacing one school, Henley Elementary, to large-scale upgrades in fire alarm systems and lighting — obviously important to the safety of students and staff.

Henley Elementary School is served by portable units brought in after the building was closed in 2006 because of an asbestos problem discovered when other repairs were being made to the roof.

Replacement of the school was part of a $74.9 million bond issue defeated in 2006 for the school district. It’s been 40 years since the school district had a bond issue approved, and bond issues are usually the way that tax districts, such as school districts, pay for big capital projects.

Henley Elementary is the biggest single project in the package — $19.4 million. Some of the other major projects include Chiloquin Junior-Senior High School, $2.36 million; Ferguson Elementary School, $1.56 million; Peterson Elementary School, $1.6 million; and Stearns Elementary School, $1.45 million.

There are repairs and upgrades for every school in the district.

The care taken to develop the capital program was impressive. As Ray Holliday, the spokesman for the group, said in a meeting with the Herald and news editorial board: No salaries, no books, no other staff, no athletics, no fluff is in the proposal. It’s strictly a capital improvement program to last for years. An oversight committee, including members of the public, would be established to see that money is properly spent.

The school district carries no bonded debt and ranks as the lowest in bonded debt among Oregon counties, a position that will change little even if the bonds are approved.

It looks to us like the district and its supporters have done a proper job and the proposal deserves voter support. We hope that open houses at the various schools will be included in the runup to the election because the buildings themselves are probably the best selling point.

It’s tough to ask people during a recession to raise taxes. We understand that. But we think taking good care of schools can be part of the answer.

A map of the district is available at the school district’s website, kcsd.k12.or.us, on the left side of the opening page. The county district surrounds the Klamath Falls City School District, which is a separate district and isn’t involved in the

Editorial board

    The H&N View represents the opinion of the Herald and News Editorial Board.  Its members  are Publisher Heidi Wright, Editor Gerry O’Brien and Forum Editor Pat Bushey.

    Community advisers to the editorial board are Jeff Ball, Chip Massie and Sara Marcus.

    Pat Bushey wrote today’s editorial.