Sheridan school district proposes $6M bond levy

Should the Sheridan School District pass its $6 million school bond May 20, the district will receive a $6 million grant match from the state.

The bond is for capital improvements, safety and security improvements at Sheridan High School and Faulconer-Chapman School.

The district has applied for an Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching Program which provides a match grant up to $6 million to school districts that pass a local general obligation bond.

“The state funding is designed to help priority districts with capital improvement projects,” Sheridan Superintendent Dorie Vickery said. “It’s a great program and helps out districts with costs.”

The matching program commits the grant to districts ahead of the election so districts can inform their communities of the potential for additional funds from the state if the local bond passes.

Two years ago, the matching grant was $4 million, but has now risen to $6 million.

Sheridan is No. 41 on the grant list out of 197 school districts. Vickery is certain, should the bond pass, the district will receive the match grant.

Vickery said the district and the bond oversight committee has done a lot of work to bring down the bond from $17 million to $12 million.

Two years ago, the $16 million bond failed by 112 votes in November 2023 and again in May 2024 by 85 votes.

Vickery said a bond has a better chance to pass if the annual tax rate is under a dollar per $1,000 assessed value. The proposed bond for May 2025 is at an estimated annual tax rate of 80 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

However, the actual levy rate may differ due to the final rates and changes in assessed value.

The cost of capital improvements listed on the bond is $12 million, as the district has anticipated receiving the matching grant from the state.

Vickery said if the improvement costs come under budget, the bond oversight committee would make a recommendation for the next improvement priorities to the school board.

Safety and security improvements would include paging/clocks/intercom devices, access control, security cameras and systems and exterior lighting.

Improvements at Sheridan High School would include secured entry, replacement of asbestos flooring, roof repair and replacement and interior updates, including lighting. Additionally, there would be an updated science lab. Outdoor repairs would include parking lot paving and improvements and additional exterior lighting.

Faulconer-Chapman School would receive HVAC system upgrades. The old gym would have updates to the music rooms, gym, locker rooms, bathrooms and storage area. The roof would also undergo restoration.

Additional site improvements include furnishings and equipment, and bond issuance costs would also be included.

“I’m excited about the old gym repairs,” Vickery said. “If fully functional, the gym could boost our capacity to host tournaments.”

The old gym houses choir and band for K-5 and middle school, as well as PE classes.

She added a remodel is needed to keep the building functioning for years to come.

Vickery said there are many unknowns when it comes to a bond, such as how much the bonds will sell for, fluctuations in assessed home values and construction costs.

“We will be playing it safe,” she said, noting the bond estimate was elevated 25% due to the uncertainty of inflation.