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Roosevelt High School was one of the schools funded by the 2012 bond for modernization. Voters are being asked to approve a new bond that would go to rebuilding or revamping four more Portland schools.

(Stephanie Yao Long/Staff)

Those counting on voters to approve a massive construction bond measure for Portland Public Schools may be feeling a little nervous these days. With ballots set to go out next week, the bond campaign has yet to kick into high gear, relying primarily on weekend canvassing, outreach to school PTAs and phone banking to get the word out. With a price tag of $790 million - the largest such bond in state history - the measure will be a hard sell to tax-weary citizens, even without the added complications that this trust-challenged district poses.

And now, a hitch: The City Club of Portland, a prominent civic organization that routinely makes endorsements on high-profile ballot measures, said it won't weigh in on the bond. Despite the group's best efforts, there simply wasn't enough time to thoroughly vet the bond to City Club standards before ballots go out, said Chris Trejbal, the interim research and policy director. Among the issues: some community organizations contacted by City Club researchers said they themselves hadn't sufficient time to evaluate the bond measure to reach a conclusion.

The stakes for Portland Public Schools are too high for slippage like this. The district is relying on passage of this bond not only for removing lead hazards from schools across the city but for continuing the necessary work of modernizing and replacing its severely outdated schools a few at a time. In a May election, with typically smaller and more conservative turnout, the need for motivated voters and evangelists to spread the word is even greater.

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Boost student success

Get Oregon's financial house in order

Help our homeless

Honor our diverse values

Make Portland a city that works

Expand access to public records

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Read more about the editorial board's priorities for Oregon.

But it's not the only consideration that should drive the board and bond measure proponents to immediately step up the campaign. The district owes the public a timely, thoughtful and detailed discussion about the vision for replacing schools, its execution of the 2012 bond, the importance of modern facilities in providing a high-quality education and the imperative to do so.

Jeremy Wright, the political consultant hired to run the campaign, assured The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board that voters will soon be seeing digital commercials, radio spots and social-media ads about the bond. He said the campaign has raised more than $400,000 that will help get its message out. And strategically, he said, it makes sense to talk to voters around the time they receive their ballots and are paying more attention to the election.

As the consultant who successfully led school bond measures in East County school districts, including voter approval in 2016 of the largest school bond ever for Gresham-Barlow School District, Wright deserves some benefit of the doubt when it comes to strategy for winning the election. The problem is that voters may not give that same benefit to the district which has found new and novel ways to torch confidence in its ability to meet educational, financial and basic health standards.

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Sooner, not later, the public needs to hear detailed descriptions of how bond proceeds will be spent. Instead of giving overall price tags for modernization or rebuilds of the four schools - Kellogg Middle School, and Benson, Madison and Lincoln High Schools - voters should hear the specifics of what those schools will look like and why those schools were picked. The campaign should explain how this bond fits into an overall strategy for replacing most district schools over a three-decade period and explain why that makes sense. Supporters should highlight the management of the last construction bond and how an expert citizens group has provided regular oversight. And most important, they must make the case to Portland voters who have no affiliation with the school district why they should care.

Bond supporters should recognize that this is far from a slam-dunk. Voters already are paying for a 2012 construction bond and a 2014 local option levy. If this bond passes, a homeowner of a house assessed at $200,000 would be paying nearly $900 just to Portland Public Schools for all three commitments.

It's disappointing that this conversation is being compressed into such a short timeline, especially considering the board made the good decision last year to postpone its bond request from the November 2016 ballot to May 2017. While they developed a smarter bond package that addresses health and safety problems identified last year, they missed the opportunity to start talking with the public and generate ease with the idea of a higher tax bill. Portland Public Schools families will soon learn whether a bigger missed opportunity results.

- The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board