OPINION
A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAy, OCTObER 2, 2019
Hermiston schools are full of potential
E
very school year in Hermiston
begins with the promise of new
opportunities for our students and
staff. New friendships are formed, new
experiences pursued, and we set out to
learn new ways to suc-
ceed together.
It’s the Hermiston
way. We’re an invit-
ing and inclusive com-
munity that believes in
teamwork and coop-
eration. We’re at our
best when we’re learn-
ing from one another,
T ricia
and our willingness to
M ooney
welcome everyone to
COMMENT
the table has spurred
extraordinary growth.
The school district benefits greatly
from this culture as we get the opportu-
nity to educate and mentor the thousands
of students who walk through our doors
each day. But this growth also creates the
challenge of finding adequate space for
everyone.
These are good problems for our com-
munity and our schools, but are problems
nonetheless. Schools with overcrowded
classrooms and congested campuses hin-
der the learning process, and as a district
we’re always looking for ways to remove
those obstacles.
When addressing these kinds of issues,
the school district and board starts with
a simple question: What is best for our
students?
Studies show an elementary school is
at its most effective with an enrollment
of 600 or less. It creates a stronger sense
of community, and the gymnasium, caf-
eteria and other communal spaces can be
shared equitably. Our elementary schools
Staff photo by Jade McDowell
Rocky Heights Elementary School would be replace with a new, larger school on the same
property if a school bond is approved by voters in November.
are either right at or beyond that critical
enrollment level now, and we’re feeling
the strain. Each year we see an additional
50 students or more, and we know that
pressure will only increase.
At the high school we need the capac-
ity to provide not only traditional educa-
tional offerings but cutting-edge career
and technical training. We simply don’t
have the space in our current buildings to
do that and have relied on modular class-
rooms as a short-term solution. But while
making payments out of our general fund
to cover their lease makes sense for short-
term capacity demands, it doesn’t uphold
our responsibility to wisely use taxpayer
dollars long-term.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Schools are the heart of the
community
Schools are the heart of our community.
We take a great deal of pride in our
schools. They’re well-maintained, well-
staffed and readily available for the public
use. They’re the foundation Hermiston has
been built on.
Now we have the opportunity to expand
that foundation by approving the construc-
tion of two new elementary schools and a
high school annex.
This will allow the schools to function
how they’re supposed to — with right-sized
classrooms and enough space for rapidly
growing student enrollment.
A new elementary school on Theater
Lane and a larger Rocky Heights will alle-
viate the pressure on the other four elemen-
tary schools, and the extra classroom space
at the high school will give our students the
classroom space they need without building
a second high school.
Join me in supporting our Hermiston
schools and approving Measure 30-130 in
November.
Josh Goller
Hermiston
Community should be prepared for
growth
Hermiston is an amazing place to live,
and it’s obvious the secret is out.
We live at the crossroads of the Pacific
Northwest, a short drive to the Blue Moun-
tains or Columbia River, with land perfect
for growing crops of all kinds and there are
friendly faces everywhere you turn. Busi-
nesses continue to open here, bringing fam-
ily wage jobs and growing the workforce.
We value this growth and owe it to our-
selves to be prepared for the families that
come with it. The Hermiston School Dis-
trict plays a big role in making the commu-
nity an attractive place to live and has cre-
ated a bond package that matches the pace
of growth we’re experiencing.
It’s fitting that the bond will be funded
With those realities in mind, we moved
on to the next question: How can we add
classroom space while best serving the
interests of the community and taxpayers?
We listened after voters rejected the
previous school bond in 2017, and with
the help of a citizens’ facility commit-
tee created a plan that will address our
capacity needs while keeping the tax rate
stable. We’ve also narrowed the scope
of the bond to meet the requests of the
community.
Financially, we’ve aggressively bud-
geted to pay off all pre-2008 bond debt so
taxpayers will see a bill about $0.40 per
$1,000 assessed value lower this fall. It’s
our intention that this bond won’t affect
that rate but will generate its revenue from
the city’s growing tax base. We have had
these numbers evaluated and certified by
Piper Jaffray.
We’ve also removed some items from
the previous bond. We are no longer ask-
ing to demolish and rebuild a larger High-
land Hills Elementary, but instead would
use the opportunity to redraw district
boundaries and make the school’s enroll-
ment fit its intended use. And we won’t
use any portion of the bond on deferred
maintenance — we’ve worked with each
department to find savings to pay for all
maintenance costs out of the general fund.
The final package includes two new
elementary schools (one to replace Rocky
Heights with a 600- student school and
a new 600-student school on the dis-
trict’s Theater Lane property), a large
multi-classroom annex at the high school,
minor site improvements at elementary
schools to decrease congestion, and the
purchase of additional property for future
development. There is also a mandate in
Measure 30-130 that the district will form
a citizen review panel to make sure funds
are spent only on intended purposes. And
as a bonus, if local voters approve the
bond, the state will supply a $6.6 million
matching grant.
The Hermiston School District believes
in being a good partner. Our role is not
just providing superb education for our
students, but also creating a desirable
workplace for our teachers and staff and
a stronger community through state-of-
the-art facilities, athletic fields and cam-
pus grounds. Hermiston is a great place to
live, work, and raise a family, and we’re
glad to be a part of it.
Tricia Mooney is the superintendent of
the Hermiston School District.
SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
in large part by local growth in the coming
years. The expanding tax base will help pay
off the debt over the life of the bond.
New schools will also increase the home
values in nearby neighborhoods and spur
further development. A strong school dis-
trict leads to a more attractive city.
We’ve got a good thing going in Hermis-
ton, and through the support of our commu-
nity the school district will continue to be a
gem that makes this a prime place to raise
a family.
Join me in voting YES for Hermiston
Schools this November.
David Droztmann
Hermiston
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Build Hermiston schools to last
In 1957 I came to Hermiston to teach
science at Hermiston Junior High Hav-
ing lived in western Oregon I wanted to get
away from the rain. I planned to stay two
years. But, realizing how dedicated patrons
were to their schools and how appreciative
they were of teachers, I stayed.
At the time I signed my contract I did
not know Hermiston was the poorest school
district in the state. Because of this, Herm-
iston barely had enough funding for operat-
ing expenses. Construction of new schools
was done with the minimum standards per-
mitted at the time. — completely unaccept-
able by today’s standards. They all leaked.
Safety was limited to getting the children
quickly out of the building in the event of
a fire. Unfortunately they were not built to
last.
Now that our tax base is near the state
average, it should be expected that our
schools be built to standards that will be
acceptable for generations to come. There
is an expression, “build it and they will
come.” I have heard newcomers say they
moved here because of the quality of our
schools.
Our good reputation will continue if you
vote yes for the school bond.
Carlisle Harrison
Hermiston
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