M.C. School District to Put $138 Million Bond Measure on Ballot

The Morrow County School District School Board made it official Monday night – the district is going out for a bond in May 2022.

The board voted at their regular meeting to place a General Obligation Bond Measure on the May 17 ballot.

The board and district have been planning the bond for quite some time. The MCSD Long-Range Facilities/Bond Planning Committee has been working on the District Facilities Plan since 2015, with more than 50 Morrow County committee members participating.

If passed, the proposed bond measure would fund projects in all three communities the district serves – Boardman, Heppner and Irrigon. Projects would be completed at all of the district’s eight schools and at the district office. Proposed bond projects include:

• New secure entries and offices
• Additions to and remodels of existing schools
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system updates
• Additional student spaces
• Separation of Jr/Sr High student spaces
• Reconfigured traffic and parking
• Additional building access for people with disabilities
• Increased technology infrastructure

Superintendent Dirk Dirksen said the school board and the district will be sharing information about the bond in the next few months, including flyers mailed to voters, an explanatory video and information on the district website and Facebook page.

“We want to ensure that our district families and communities are informed about what this bond would mean at their schools and for the success of all students at MCSD,” Dirksen said.

If passed, the proposed bond measure would raise $138 million, and MCSD would be awarded a matching grant from the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program of $4 million. A total of $142 million would be available for proposed projects.

“Having the OSCIM grant as a match is a good opportunity for the district to receive additional funds for projects,” Dirksen said.

If the proposed measure passes, the bond would mature in 20 years or less and the bond rate would be an estimated $2.67 per $1,000 of assessed property value, although the actual levy rate may differ. If the proposed measure passes, it is estimated that a taxpayer who owns a house assessed at $200,000 would pay approximately $534 per year.

If the proposed bond measure does not pass, the grant money would not be received from the state, the proposed projects would not be completed and tax rates would not increase.

For more information about the bond, visit the district website at www.morrow.k12.or.us or contact Dirksen at 541-676-5705 or dirk.dirksen@morrow.k12.or.us.