MORROW COUNTY — The Morrow County School District’s Community Bond Advisory Committee wants to hear from the community about its bond draft recommendations for the district.

The committee met for nine months to develop recommendations. Certified assessors from the Oregon Department of Education conducted comprehensive reviews of all MCSD schools and facilities. 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. All of the facility reports can be viewed at shorturl.at/ythmk.

Taxpayers in the Morrow County School District are not paying for a school district bond or levy. The last general obligation bond voters there passed was in 2001, and it expired in 2021. Voters last passed an operating levy in 2012. It was not for facility construction or upgrades, and it expired in 2016.

The community feedback period is open through Dec. 30. People can provide feedback on forms that are available in English and Spanish. Here are ways to access the forms:

• Visit the website at mcsdbond.org.

• Get forms at any school or district building.

• Email bondinfo@morrowsd.org to request a form.

• Call the district office at 541-676-5705 to have a form mailed to your home.

The CBAC wants the public to know that these are draft recommendations; bond projects are not yet decided, which is why they are seeking input.

“We strongly encourage our students, teachers, staff and community members to provide their honest feedback about the draft options now. We want to hear from you,” CBAC member Tia McNamee said.

After the community feedback period, the CBAC will review input and create a final bond recommendation in early January 2025, then present it to the district’s board of directors.

The committee has made two options in the draft recommendations:

• Bond Option 1 totals $205.4 million and includes remodeling Riverside Jr/Sr High, remodeling Heppner Jr/Sr High into a K-12 school, replacing Irrigon Jr/Sr High, and safety and security improvements at other schools across the district.

• Bond Option 2 totals $260.55 million and includes remodeling Riverside Jr/Sr High, remodeling Heppner Jr/Sr High into a K-12 school, replacing Irrigon Jr/Sr High, traffic flow improvements at Sam Boardman Elementary, replacing A.C. Houghton Elementary, plus safety and security improvements at other schools across the district.

There are 20-year and 30-year bond terms, during which property taxes would increase to repay the bonds, under consideration The district will apply for a matching grant of $6 million from the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching Program. For more information, visit the bond website page at mcsdbond.org or contact the Morrow County School District at 541-676-5705.

More Information

The Morrow County School District’s Community Bond Advisory Committe is 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 Duenas, 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.