Conversation about school buildings will continue

By a margin of fewer than 1,000 votes out of almost 120,000 cast, voters turned down the PPS construction bond this week, postponing improvements to schools.  Superintendent Carole Smith called the results disappointing, but said the conversation about the urgent need to rebuild and improve schools would enter a new phase. 

PPS school buildings are 65 years old, on average. Many of their heating, electrical, plumbing, roofing and other building systems are on the brink of failure, according to third-party assessments. Classrooms are not designed or equipped for today’s teaching methods. They need upgrades for student and staff safety and security.

Portland Public Schools leaders had hoped to join every other school district in the area in having a dedicated school construction bond to pay for needed work. But by a narrow margin, voters turned down the bond May 17.

Tough economy takes toll

The proposed bond rate, $2 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value, would have placed PPS in the middle of tax rates paid in neighboring school districts. But in tough economic times, the PPS teachers levy was one of only a few school measures passed by any Oregon district. Many more, including the PPS bond measure, were voted down.

Superintendent Carole Smith and the Portland School Board remain committed to modernizing school buildings. The goal: buildings that are on a par with those in neighboring districts. But it’s too early to say when PPS might return to the ballot with a bond proposal. 

 “We must strike a different balance between the work that must be done in our schools and what the community believes it can afford right now,” Smith said. “We know the costs will go up the longer we wait, so we will need to have this community conversation quickly.”

Challenges continue

Without dedicated funding for school building projects, PPS students will continue to attend class in inadequate and outdated facilities. Costly repairs to deteriorating school buildings — such as high-priority fire alarm system replacements at three schools — will continue to strain the PPS budget, draining dollars from the classroom.

The superintendent and school board will meet soon to consider next steps in tackling the most critical work, the status of Marysville K-8 School, and the community conversation about a future construction bond.