30
Wednesday, March 23, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
SCHOOL BONd:
Voters will decide
in May 17 election
Continued from page 1
Hedrick and board vice
chair Jeff Smith said that
enhancing safety and security
is a critical action in today’s
climate, where violent intrud-
ers are a threat.
“It’s something we have to
do,” Hedrick said.
The $2.76 million allocated
through the proposed bond
funding would allow recon-
figuring school entrances to
provide improved access con-
trol and provide for security
devices.
“Technology allows us to
lock classroom doors in the
event of an intruder,” Smith
said.
Roof repair at Sisters High
School would be covered
within the $2.7 million allo-
cated for site improvements.
However, the district is no
longer planning on replac-
ing the roof, which has posed
problems almost since the
high school was opened 12
years ago.
Taxpayer frustration with
the notion of replacing a
12-year-old roof is consid-
ered a key reason that voters
rejected a $14.5 million bond
request in November 2014.
“The roof, we think now,
can be repaired rather than
replaced,” Hedrick said.
Instead of a $1.3 million
estimate cost to replace the
roof, the district has allocated
$375,000 for repair.
“We have worked with
subcontractors to make repairs
on the roof, and those fixes
have been successful,” Smith
told The Nugget.
He said the board believes
they can extend the life of the
existing roof another eight to
12 years.
“The roof was a huge con-
troversy,” Hedrick said. “We
don’t want the roof to be the
cause of a bond issue failing.”
Funds allocated for site
improvements will take care
of deferred maintenance
and ADA (Americans with
Disabilities Act) compliance
requirements.
ADA requirements will
also drive some of the work
on athletic facilities. Reed
Stadium is not currently ADA
compliant, and the stands have
been deemed a problem for
people with mobility issues.
The track has been rendered
unusable.
“We have to replace the
track,” Hedrick said. “It’s not
usable. The stadium is not
ADA compliant.”
Some $2.5 million has
been allocated in the bond
for Reed Stadium repairs and
upgrades. Another $481,250
has been called out for a new
baseball field and $357,500
for tennis courts. The courts
would also be lined for pickle-
ball and open for community
use, Hedrick noted.
There is no money allo-
cated for technology pur-
chases, which was another
sticking point for taxpayers in
the failed $14.5 million bond
election of 2014.
The district is allocat-
ing funds from the proposed
bond to pay off $1,270,000
remaining to be paid on the
district’s full faith and credit
obligations. The district obli-
gated itself to the tune of $2.1
million in March of 2007 to
fund replacement of the ele-
mentary school roof and other
facilities needs. At the time
the FF&C obligations were
incurred, enrollment in Sisters
schools was strong and staff
and school board believed the
district could readily sustain
payments.
The roof, we think
now, can be repaired
rather than replaced.
— don hedrick
When the Great Recession
hit and enrollment (which is
the basis for the allocation of
state school funding) plum-
meted, the FF&C obligations
became a significant burden,
costing the district $240,000
per year — money that could
not go to funding teachers.
“We were looking at grow-
ing revenue on an annual basis
— then the world changed,”
Smith said.
By paying off that debt, the
district would free up the pay-
ment dollars for the classroom.
Hedrick and Smith say
that, while the reduced bond
request will not cover all of
the needs of the district, it will
cover critical needs. They note
that the district plans to host at
least two public information
presentations between now
and the election.
GOVERNOR: Programs
are example of
STEAM curriculum
Continued from page 1
and excitement.”
Woodshop teacher Tony
Cosby noted that the class can
put a student in the alternative
education program to work
right next to “a kid who’s
going to med school.”
Brown asked student Rory
Petterson to talk about his
work. Petterson showed her
how he designed a custom-
ized headstock for his guitar
on the computer, then showed
off his work-in-progress.
“What do you like about
this work?” Gov. Brown asked.
“Doing something like this
on the computer and bring-
ing it out into the real world,”
Petterson replied. “I think this
has opened me up to so many
experiences and so many
opportunities — it led me
toward the engineering side.”
Gov. Brown also visited
Sisters High School’s Flight
Sciences Program, co-spon-
sored by the school district,
ENERGYneering Solutions,
and Sisters Science Club. The
main purpose of the class is to
introduce students to the sci-
ence and wonder of flight, and
prepare them to take the FAA
Private Pilot written exam.
Coursework for this class
is mostly computer-based.
Volunteer pilots serve as men-
tors and coaches. Students
also have opportunities for
flight.
The greenhouse that is
under construction at Sisters
High School in conjunction
with Sisters Science Club and
Sisters Kiwanis was also on
the tour. That facility provides
not only educational opportu-
nities in agricultural sciences,
but also provides fresh food
for students.
I think this has
opened me up to so many
experiences and so
many opportunities —
it led me toward the
engineering side.
— Rory Petterson
The programs that con-
tinue to thrive in Sisters
despite enrollment struggles
and tight budgets reflect a
high degree of community
engagement from local non-
profits and individuals. Such
programs serve as a model
for initiatives that could
be applied across Oregon
— which is what sparked
Brown’s interest.
And Governor Brown
recognized the key element
that makes such innovations
feasible: “Thanks to the vol-
unteers,” she said. “This pro-
gram wouldn’t be happening
with out them, right?”
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