Morrow County School District and its Board of Directors are moving forward to complete the next steps toward the district’s General Obligation Bond.
The district’s Community Bond Advisory Committee (CBAC) presented two bond draft recommendations to the board on January 13, 2025. The board will further discuss the recommendations and get a few more questions answered at a work session on January 29th.
Matt Combe, MCSD Superintendent, said the district and the board appreciate all the hard work the CBAC members completed. The CBAC met for nine months to develop the bond draft recommendations. Comprehensive reviews of all MCSD schools and facilities were conducted by certified assessors from the Oregon Department of Education. CBAC members reviewed these facility assessments, toured buildings with school principals, reviewed bond financial options and prioritized projects. The facility assessments indicate that several MCSD schools need to be replaced and other schools need important remodels or upgrades, including safety and security improvements.
“Over many months, these community members attended meetings, discussed options, reviewed data, asked questions and developed detailed bond project recommendations and we are very grateful for their time, dedication and work,” Combe said.
The CBAC was comprised of 19 community members from Boardman, Irrigon, Heppner and Lexington who are volunteering to guide this process. The members are: Zac Acock, Doris Brosnan, Luis Campos, Andrew Cemore, Dave Cooley, Pamela Cutsforth, Jose Dueñas, Frances Glenn, Torrie Griggs, Brett Harrison, Jan Huddleston, Karla Jimenez, Angela Jones, Tia McNamee, Sue Oliver, Brandi Orem, Madison Rosenbalm, George Shimer and Gina Wilson.
Combe said the district and the board also thank everyone who provided feedback about the bond draft recommendations, which the CBAC reviewed and used while creating the proposed bond projects.
After the board work session at the end of January, the district and board anticipate that the board will approve the bond resolution for the ballot in May 2025.
The district recently was notified that it has qualified for a matching grant of $6 million from the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching Program (OSCIM). This grant would be provided if the proposed bond is approved by Morrow County voters in the spring.
Taxpayers in the Morrow County School District are not currently paying for a school district bond nor levy. The last general obligation bond was passed in 2001 and expired in 2021. The last operating levy (which was not for facility construction or upgrades) passed in 2012 and expired in 2016.
More information will be communicated in the coming months about the MCSD proposed bond. To view bond draft recommendations or facility reports of MCSD schools, please visit mcsdbond.org for the latest information, email bondinfo@morrowsd.org or contact the District Office at 541-676-5705.