Thanks to a generous bond awarded to local schools in 2006, construction is underway all over Yamhill County. This site provides the latest photos and stories about the progress.
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Mac School District wins bond passage
Published: November 9, 2006
By STARLA POINTER
Of the News-Register
McMinnville voters gave students an early Christmas present Tuesday when they approved $62 million for construction of a new elementary school, more classrooms at existing elementaries and a high school addition with 30 classrooms and a cafeteria large enough for all students to eat on campus.
The final unofficial tally was 6,660 to 5,343 or 55.5 percent to 44.5 percent, and district officials took the margin of victory as a welcome vote of confidence.
“This is good for the district and especially good for students,” said Superintendent Maryalice Russell.
McMinnville schools already are over capacity, with several hundred students studying in temporary modular units and some being bused to other buildings. The bond will pay for permanent space not only for the current number, but hundreds more expected in the next few years.
In addition, Russell said, it will help the district to maintain small class sizes and improve safety for students. At Mac High, the new wing will be tailored to small learning community programs being implemented to improve student learning.
Russell said she wants to complete the projects “sooner, rather than later.” One reason is to keep costs as low as possible, but the main reason is the dire need for additional space now.
“Could we use the new classrooms tomorrow? We could use them today,” she said.
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McMinnville school supporters were elated as they watched election returns roll in. The bond was winning 54.4 to 45.4 percent when the first tally was released at 8 p.m.
They remained cautious well into the evening, but the margin continued to hold as the votes piled up. About three-quarters of the school district’s registered voters cast ballots, significantly above the overall turnout, which stood at 66 percent.
“I’m feeling very good about the early returns,” school board member Stan Primozich said mid-way through the evening. “This will be good for kids. We have to provide a safe environment for students to learn.”
He said he wasn’t surprised that voters were approving the measure, trimmed substantially after an earlier defeat. The initial request, defeated by 340 votes, totaled $96 million.
“I think people appreciated that we listened, re-evaluated and came back with another measure,” Primozich said.
The bond measure is designed to fund construction of a new cafeteria and 30 classrooms at McMinnville High School, a new 600-student building to replace aging Cook Elementary and more classrooms at several grade schools. It is also aimed at addressing maintenance and repair needs at several buildings, expand high school parking and provide funding for some additional security measures.
The overriding goal is to provide more space that the fast-growing district desperately needs, educators said.
“I’m pleased. I think the community sees the need and certainly understands the growth,” said Dr. Paul Haddeland, co-chair of the citizen effort to pass the bond.
The earlier measure would have built a second high school campus on Hill Road, as well. Board members eliminated that aspect of the request after voters found it hard to understand, especially the programs that would have been offered at each site had not been finalized.
Adding 30 classrooms on the existing campus proved much cheaper, because the main campus already has a gym, library, commons, lab and office facilities, and all of the necessary heating, cooling, ventilation, electrical and plumbing infrastructure.
The district’s Construction Oversight Committee and board Long-range Facilities Subcommittee will begin reviewing architects proposals next week, the superintendent said. Staff, parents and other community members will be invited to help with planning for the expansions and new schools.
David Horner, director of facilities, said the school board hopes to hire one or more architectural firms in December, and projects will begin in 2007. The district may hire a construction coordinator or firm to oversee the work.
Horner said the district hopes to have some of the new classrooms ready for use by September 2008, although nothing is set in stone as yet. “There are so many unknowns at this point,” he said.
Elementary principals Bruce Waltz and Mark Hinthorn already were dreaming of new classrooms as they watched the election returns come in Tuesday night.
“We’re completely out of space at Memorial,” Waltz said. “More rooms and a bigger cafeteria will really help.”
Newby, Hinthorn’s school, also will gain classrooms. That will allow several classes to move out of old, modular structures and into the main building, meaning that students no longer will need to walk through the rain to reach the bathroom or library.
In addition, Newby will see new core facilities, including a new entranceway on the Duniway Middle School side. This will enable the two schools to share a parking lot.
“Parents will be ecstatic because they will no longer have the daily grind of lining up to drop off their kids or trying to park. It’s a real safety issue right now,” Hinthorn said.