Here's how Salem-Keizer's bond would be used to improve schools if voters say OK

A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the size of the bond within state context. The Salem-Keizer bond, if passed, would be the third largest bond in Oregon history.

Salem-Keizer voters are about to approve or deny hundreds of millions of dollars intended to improve local schools.

If passed, Ballot Measure 24-429 would tap taxpayers for $619.7 million over the life of the 20-year bond. Property owners would see an estimated increase of $1.24 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The money is meant to relieve overcrowding, expand academic programs, make safety upgrades and address other facility needs in Salem-Keizer Public Schools.

Projects include 12 new career-technical education spaces at high schools, 170 new general education classrooms, 39 science labs, 22 cafeteria additions and/or expansions, nine multipurpose fitness rooms in elementary and middle schools, two new auxiliary gyms and one new main gym.

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Explore proposed improvements to feeder systems:

McKay | McNary | North Salem | South Salem | Sprague | West Salem

This would be the third largest school bond passed in Oregon history; the largest in Salem-Keizer history. The district's last bond measure, passed in 2008, totaled $242.1 million.

Salem-Keizer serves more than 42,000 students in 65 schools, the second largest school district in the state. Enrollment has grown by about 2,000 students over the past decade, according to district officials.

Additionally, five of the district’s six traditional high schools are currently at or over capacity, officials said. Portable classrooms and annexed spaces are being used to address the overcrowding.

"We are growing at a clip of 1,000 students every five years," said Lillian Govus, a spokeswoman for the school district.

"In some schools, we can’t begin discussions about class sizes because we've had to turn closets into educational spaces," she said.

If the bond measure fails, it could cost taxpayers $35 million more per year for every year the bond measure is delayed, district officials claim.

While there has been no organized opposition to the bond, individuals have voiced concerns about the time it will take to implement the changes and questioned if their personal schools will benefit. Some also worry school staff didn't have enough substantial input on the changes.

Ballots will be mailed to voters starting April 25. The deadline for returning them is May 15 at 8 p.m.

Below are highlights of the work proposed for the district's six traditional high schools and Roberts High School.

For a detailed breakdown of every school in the district, go to bondinfo.salkeiz.k12.or.us. This information is reproduced from district documents.

Note: Some schools feed into more than one high school system, but are only included in one below.

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McKay High School

The school capacity without portables is 1,797 students and 2,325 with portables. The school served 2,334 students in 2016 and currently uses 16 portable classrooms and the adjacent modular Annex for a total of 22 portable classrooms.

If passed, expected improvements would include elevator replacement, plumbing, HVAC, an exterior seal, roofing replacements, intercom system upgrades, card access system upgrades, expanded wireless capacity, tennis courts and security improvements to increase the visibility of the main entry from the office.

Additional or expanded spaces would include 11 new general classrooms, four new science labs, a flexible learning space, two career-technical education program areas, cafeteria and kitchen expansion, new (replacement) library, new auxiliary gymnasium, spaces to support special education and expanded admin and support areas.

Construction would begin in 2020.

McNary High School

The school capacity without portables is 1,725 students and 1,869 with portables. The school served about 2,046 students in 2016 and currently uses six portables.

Enrollment projections total 2,207 students by 2035.

If passed, expected improvements would include an exterior seal, garage door replacements, select flooring replacements, plumbing, ventilation improvements, intercom system upgrades, card access system upgrades, expanded wireless capacity, seismic improvements and increased visibility of the main entry from the office.

Additional or expanded spaces would include 14 new general classrooms, one new science lab, a flexible learning space, two career-technical education program areas, the replacement of demolished classrooms, spaces to support special education, expanded admin and support areas, parking expansion/a new drop-off lane and relocated softball fields/tennis courts.

Construction would begin in 2019.

North Salem High School

The school capacity without portables is 1,639 students and 1,879 with portables. The school served about 1,867 students in 2016 and currently uses ten portables.

Enrollment projections total 2,009 students by 2035.

If passed, expected improvements would include an exterior seal, roofing replacement, elevator replacement, heating/ventilation improvements, storm drain line replacement, intercom system upgrades, card access system upgrades, expanded wireless capacity, seismic improvements and security improvements to increase the visibility of the main entry from the office.

Additional or expanded spaces would include 20 new general classrooms, one new science lab, a flexible learning space, two career-technical education program areas, satellite commons and kitchen, replacement P.E. spaces, new main and auxiliary gymnasiums, spaces to support special education and expanded administration and support areas.

Construction would start in 2019.

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South Salem High School

The school capacity without portables is 1,179 students. The school served about 1,881 students in 2016.

Enrollment projections total 2,261 students by 2035. The building is currently shared with Howard Street Charter School; however, the lease has not been renewed to allow for capacity needs at the high school.

If passed, expected improvements would include an exterior seal, select flooring replacements, elevator replacement, plumbing, roofing replacement, replacement of partition walls, removal of the old pool, intercom system upgrades, card access system upgrades, expanded wireless capacity, seismic improvements and security improvements to increase the visibility of the main entry from the office.

Additional or expanded spaces would include 12 new general classrooms, the replacement of 12 demolished classrooms, two new science labs, a flexible learning space, two career-technical education program areas, spaces to support special education, new theater and music rooms, expanded admin and support areas and parking expansion.

Construction would begin in 2020.

Sprague High School

The school capacity without portables is 1,676 students and 1,940 with portables. The school served about 1,706 students in 2016 and currently uses 11 portables.

Enrollment projections total about 2,112 students by 2035.

If passed, expected improvements would include an exterior seal, roofing replacement, HVAC, intercom system upgrades, card access system upgrades, seismic improvements and expanded wireless capacity.

Additional or expanded spaces would include 16 new/repurposed general classrooms, two new science labs, a flexible learning space, two career-technical education program areas, spaces to support special education, expanded commons and kitchen, a relocated and expanded main office to improve security, expanded admin and support areas and the removal of portable classrooms.

Construction would begin in 2021.

West Salem High School

The school capacity without portables is 1,739 students and 1,797 with portables. The school served about 1,773 students in 2016 and currently uses two portables.

Enrollment projections total 2,015 students by 2035.

If passed, expected improvements would include an exterior seal, intercom system upgrades, card access system upgrades, expanded wireless capacity and additional music support.

Additional or expanded spaces would include 20 new general classrooms, two new science labs, a flexible learning space, two career-technical education program areas, spaces to support special education, commons expansion, locker room expansions, expanded administration and support areas and the expansion of the parking lot by 100 spaces.

Construction would start in 2021.

Roberts High School

The school capacity without portables is 275 students. The school keeps its enrollment at 200 students.

If passed, expected improvements would include an exterior seal, flooring replacements, intercom system upgrades, card access system upgrades and expanded wireless capacity.

Additional or expanded spaces would include the creation of a flexible STEM/CTE

lab space through repurposing of select existing classrooms.

lab space through repurposing of select existing classrooms. Construction would begin in 2023.

For more information on the bond or to see what changes would be made on support services buildings, go to https://bondinfo.salkeiz.k12.or.us/bonddocuments/.

Contact Natalie Pate at npate@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6745 or follow her on Twitter @Nataliempate or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist.

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