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Beaverton School Board member Linda Degman and Beaverton School District Superintendent Jeff Rose celebrate updated bond election results.

(Anna Marum/The Oregonian)

The Beaverton School District bond vote was a nail-biter Tuesday as the district waited through three counts before feeling comfortable enough to call the win.

With 52 percent, Beaverton voters approved the largest bond measure in state history.

"This is a vote of confidence," said a beaming Superintendent Jeff Rose. "I'm extremely proud to represent and serve the Beaverton School District. We will work extremely hard to be good stewards."

It was an anxious two hours for Rose, school board members, teachers, parents and members of the school district bond committee as they watched the count in a back room at McMenamins in Cedar Hills.

The count was 51.7 percent to 48.2 percent at 8 p.m. and supporters offered tentative applause but Rose remained on edge. The difference wasn't enough.

"It doesn't matter how (I) feel, it's how other people feel," he said referring to the voters.

At 9 p.m., the vote increased to 52 percent and 48 percent, which gave more hope but not enough to call it a win. By 10 p.m., the percentages were holding steady and enough votes had been counted for supporters to relax.

People made jokes to ease the tension, including Rose who said "We got three more votes," when he checked the 10 p.m. results.

Yes for Beaverton Schools campaign consultant Paige Richardson gave the thumbs up. "There's a small margin, but it looks like it's holding steady,"

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With that, the whoops and hugs took over.

The work begins on Wednesday as the finance department starts the process of selling the bonds and investing the funds. The movement of dirt won't happen for about a year.

"I have a shovel in the car," joked Deputy Superintendent Ron Porterfield, who oversees facilities. "I'm going right to the property for the new high school."

Among the supporters was Westview High School senior Jackie Salzinger, who sported an "I voted" sticker on her self-described patriotic shirt -- red with blue and gold stars. It was her first vote.

"My first election was for Beaverton schools," she said, grinning.

Like others in this election, she waited until the last day to cast her ballot.

"I wanted to do it on election day to make it more of an event," she said. She dropped it off at the Cedar Mill Library.

Even though she's a senior and won't benefit from the bond, Salzinger said she still wanted the best for Beaverton schools. Westview is among the schools that will find relief from packed hallways and classes in portable buildings with the bond.

Salzinger was among the hundreds of people who called voters and knocked on doors to get the vote for the bond.

The $680 million construction bond will pay for 27 projects including a new high school, middle school and elementary. It will rebuild Vose, Hazeldale and William Walker elementary schools as well as the Arts and Communication Magnet Academy. It will renovate Five Oaks Middle School, Raleigh Hills K-8 and others. It will improve security across the district and fund needed repairs at nearly every school. It will also pay to improve technology across the district, both infrastructure and computer devices.

The districts has said the bond will not increase the $2.11 per $1,000 of assessed value, which is what property owners currently pay for school bonds.

-- Wendy Owen