Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the proposed bond be on the ballot?

The bond proposal will appear on the May 17, 2022 ballot.

In general, what is included in the proposed bond?

In May 2022, voters will decide on a new proposed capital improvement bond to be used on projects across the district including seismic stability upgrades, improvement of air ventilation systems, replacement of aging roofs and additional classroom space to alleviate overcrowding. Bond money also would be used to improve accessibility in special education classrooms, enhance learning spaces and replace all one-to-one student Chromebooks and iPads. The two largest proposed projects are the complete rebuilds of Beaverton High School and Raleigh Hills K-8 School.

How much will the proposed 2022 bond raise?

If passed, the proposed bond would raise about $723 million. 

What does the $50 million for management of the bond include?

The proposed bond includes $50 million for management of the bond, which includes a staff of 25 project managers, coordinators, inspectors, accountants and other support staff. The proposed bond also includes a contingency fund of $43 million to cover possible increases in materials and labor due to inflation. In addition, if the bond passes, the District would qualify for an $8-million dollar grant from the state; that's also figured into the $723-million total bond amount.

How does this proposed bond compare to the previous BSD bond program?

The previous 2014 bond program raised $680 million, which is equivalent to about $794 million in 2021 dollars.

Didn’t we just pass a bond in May 2018?

No. BSD voters passed a five-year Local Option Levy in May 2018 to fund teacher positions and maintain class sizes. The levy does not and cannot provide funding for capital improvement projects.

Could the district use money from the proposed bond to fund more teachers?

Oregon state law prohibits the use of bond funds to cover operational costs such as teacher and support staff salaries.

What will happen if the proposed bond does not pass?

School districts generally do not use General Funds for major capital improvement projects. However, if this bond is not approved, the District would have to address immediate building repairs by using General Funds, which may have been earmarked for other purposes. For example, replacing failed roofing is critical to keeping our schools operational. At a standard middle school, a new roof costs approximately $4 million. Other projects would simply not move forward.

If the proposed bond passes, would the District receive additional state funds?

If the proposed bond passes, the District would receive an additional $8 million in state grant money through the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) program. If the proposed bond does not pass, BSD would not receive the grant. The District also would be eligible to receive additional grant funds from other state programs such as the Oregon Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program.

Will all schools get an equal share of the proposed bond funds?

No. Newer schools don’t have as many needs as older buildings. However, every BSD school would receive some improvements, including security cameras and upgrades. In addition, all BSD students would benefit from new devices as part of the technology upgrades.

How can I be assured that the proposed bond money will be spent responsibly?

As was the case with the 2014 Bond, the district will have a citizen Bond Accountability Committee that includes community members, as well as school board members, to oversee the funds. The committee meets regularly with the bond management team to review bond program performance and financial audits. Learn more about the current Citizen Bond Accountability Committee by visiting its webpage.

With interest rate, inflation, supply chain and workforce challenges abounding these days, how will the District exercise operational discipline? What did the District learn from any cost overruns in the 2014 Bond? 

This subject has been the topic of considerable discussion with the citizen-led Bond Accountability Committee (BAC) during public meetings. Here's a link to a presentation that was given on October 27, 2021. It's also been discussed at public School Board meetings. While there were admittedly cost overruns and unforeseen circumstances during the Mountainside project, the district learned from that experience and was able to employ cost-saving strategies on the other new builds and rebuilds that were part of the 2014 Bond, bringing that bond in on time and on budget. These same strategies are being used to contain costs and plan for possible inflation in supplies and labor on the possible rebuilds of Beaverton High School and Raleigh Hills. And as was the case with the 2014 Bond, the 2022 Bond would be overseen by the BAC.

How can I learn more about the proposed bond? 

District staff will be making presentations to school PTOs and community groups during the months of January, February and March. You’re welcome to attend and ask questions. Check the calendar on this website for dates and times. 

Can I submit a question about the proposed bond?

Yes. To submit a question, visit this webpage. 

If the proposed bond passes, how would it affect my property tax bill?

The current tax rate is $2.09 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The proposed bond would increase the current tax rate by an estimated $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value. For a homeowner with an average assessed property value of $303,021 (the average in the Beaverton School District), that's an increase of about $76 during the first year.

How can I find out my current assessed property value?

To find your current assessed property value, look at your Real Property Tax Statement.

How can I compute my estimated tax increase for the first year?

To compute your estimated tax increase for the first year: Your Assessed Property Value ÷ 1000 × .25 = Estimated Tax Increase

How can I compute my estimated tax total for the first year?

To compute your estimated tax total for the first year: Your Assessed Property Value ÷ 1000 × 2.34 = Estimated Tax Total

What are some of the factors that could impact my tax bill in future years?

Know that the assessed value of your property, which is often significantly less than the market value of your property, may increase. Also, due to Measure 50, most homeowners will experience a minimum 3% annual tax increase, regardless of the proposed bond or fluctuations in market values.

What would the tax rate be if the proposed bond does not pass?

Due to the paying down debt on previous bonds, the rate would be $1.68 per $1,000 of assessed property value as of July 2022, if the proposed bond does not pass.

If assessed property values increase faster than forecasted, the proposed tax rate of $2.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value would generate more revenue than estimated. If that’s the case, how would the funding be used?

All revenue generated for the bond issue must be used for paying down the bonded debt. The bond tax rate would be lowered if assessed property values increase more than projected.

Would the proposed bond appear on taxpayers’ property tax bills for the next 30 years?

Yes. Think about bond financing as you would when you purchase a home and finance it with a mortgage. It will take approximately seven years to complete the planned construction projects, but the proposed bonds will be financed over a 30-year payment schedule. Because of the way in which the debt service schedule is built, the actual tax rate for this proposed bond will decline over time.

How were proposed bond projects identified and prioritized?

In 2019, the District hired an outside consultant to do a comprehensive Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) of all BSD properties, both interiors and exteriors. The consultant scored schools and district buildings on seismic readiness, age, condition and the amount of deferred maintenance. Then in February 2021, the District asked the community including staff, parents/guardians and students to complete a survey that further prioritized needs. Findings from the FCA and results from the survey resulted in a list of proposed projects that fall into six main categories: Modernization, Seismic Upgrades, Technology, Deferred Maintenance, Additional Capacity, and Security and Other Equipment.

How is BSD making sure that bond funds would be spent equitably instead of focusing on the more affluent areas?

Generally speaking, projects are selected based on facility condition as identified in the Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) report, especially when it comes to seismic improvements or deferred maintenance. However, other categories do support equity goals. For example:

• High school athletic improvements: The proposed bond includes artificial turf fields for baseball and softball at Aloha, Southridge and Westview High Schools. These are the only high schools that would otherwise not have this feature (not counting Beaverton High School which would receive it via the proposed replacement). The same is true for the athletic building improvements planned for Southridge, Aloha and Westview. Currently, their facilities are not equivalent to other schools.
• Modernization: These projects would allocate $24 million to be distributed to schools to address a variety of needs. This money is allocated based on facility size, facility condition and percentage of students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program.

How were ESSER funds (federal COVID-19 aid) spent? Why didn’t the district use that money instead of asking for a new proposed bond?

ESSER funds come with very defined rules about what those dollars can be spent on. All the money must be spent within three years, ending in 2024; these funds are one-time monies. The majority of the ESSER funds were and are being spent in the classroom. However, about $10.1 million dollars are being spent on those capital improvements that are allowed under the rules.

During the April work session, the district’s Chief Facilities Officer outlined how the ESSER dollars will be spent through 2024 (On YouTube, it starts at 4:39:31). Generally speaking, the district is targeting schools that need mechanical ventilation and HVAC improvements. While the $10.1 million dollars will cover some HVAC needs, it does not cover all the needs outlined in the 2022 proposed bond. 

What proposed projects are included in the Modernization category and how much money has been allocated for these projects?

Modernization projects totaling $397 million are included in the proposed bond. The Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) identified 13 district facilities as being in critical condition and candidates for possible replacement. The District has included two replacement projects in this proposed bond: Beaverton High School and Raleigh Hills K-8 School. 

As part of the proposed bond, every school in the district (with the exception of the newest ones) would undergo some type of modernization. Proposed projects include relocation of front offices to address access and safety issues; upgrades to athletic facilities and fields at Aloha, Southridge and Westview High Schools; enhanced learning spaces; new gyms and cafeterias; new playground equipment; kitchen remodels; additional or remodeled bathrooms; and stage improvements. 

To find a list of proposed projects, visit this webpage and click on your student’s school.

What proposed projects are included in the Seismic Upgrades category and how much money has been allocated for these projects?

Seismic Upgrade projects totaling $40 million are included in the proposed bond. Starting in 2014, the District began building all new schools as essential Risk Category IV facilities, meaning those schools are equipped with seismic bracing and other features that are not only designed to withstand an earthquake but will allow the buildings to serve as emergency shelters for the surrounding community in case of a natural disaster.

Many older district buildings have little or no earthquake resistance built into their original designs. A seismic evaluation of all district facilities was completed in 2019 and provided scores indicating how each facility would likely perform in an earthquake. Thirteen of the district's 53 schools currently meet or nearly meet the district's goal for damage control, leaving 40 schools that don't meet the district's standards for earthquake readiness. Please see the Seismic Assessment Report for more details.

The proposed bond would fund seismic upgrades at schools which received some of the lowest scores: Cedar Park, Five Oaks, Highland Park, Meadow Park, Mountain View and Whitford Middle Schools. These schools would comprise Phase One of the seismic upgrades with more schools to follow in subsequent proposed bonds.

If 40 of our schools need critical seismic upgrades, why aren’t all those projects included in this proposed bond? 

Of the 40 schools identified, six schools —  Cedar Park, Five Oaks, Highland Park, Meadow Park, Mountain View and Whitford Middle Schools — would be addressed in this proposed bond. If the District were to address all seismic needs, the total funds needed would likely exceed $250 million. In addition, managing 40 seismic projects during one bond cycle would prove logistically impossible. There aren't enough local engineering firms even available to do that amount of work in that amount of time.

 Also, the buildings that perform the worst seismically are the oldest ones. The oldest buildings are the top candidates for replacement. So, replacing Beaverton High School and Raleigh Hills K-8 School also serves to significantly reduce our overall seismic deficiency. The District doesn’t plan to seismically upgrade buildings that will likely be replaced in the next bond.

2017 Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 455.400 states that “Subject to available funding, all seismic rehabilitations or other actions to reduce seismic risk must be completed before January 1, 2032.” Local bond measures are the primary funding mechanism for seismic rehabilitations.

If West TV Elementary has the lowest seismic score in the Seismic Assessment report (2019), why is the school not scheduled for a seismic upgrade in this proposed bond?

The low seismic score shown for West TV is outdated. It was seismically upgraded along with the roof replacement in 2019; however, the score has not yet been updated. The major remaining seismic deficiency at West TV is the unreinforced masonry panels in the gymnasium. The District has a project scheduled for this summer to repair this issue; that's why it has not been identified as a proposed project in the 2022 Bond.

What proposed projects are included in the Technology category and how much money has been allocated for these projects? Will the proposed bond cover the cost of a replacement iPad or Chromebook for every student?  

During the early days of the pandemic, our students used their school-issued iPads and Chromebooks for remote learning. The replacement cost for these devices is roughly $27.4 million. The proposed bond would fund two rounds of new Chromebooks (or equivalents) at the high school level and one round of new Chromebooks and iPads (or equivalents) at the elementary and middle school levels over seven years.

High school devices will be replaced twice due to the timing of the issuance of devices to students.  The high school students will receive new devices at the beginning of the 2022 Bond and those devices reach the end of their useful life near the end of the 2022 Bond at which time, a second round of new devices will be issued.  Devices for middle and elementary students are more recently purchased and will need to be replaced after the first round of the high school devices.

The proposed bond also would cover more than $16 million worth of network and infrastructure upgrades, as well as extra devices and parts, to improve district connectivity and cybersecurity preparedness.

If the proposed bond does not pass, the District would not fund new, one-to-one iPads and Chromebooks for student use, and other technology improvements would not be made unless General Funds were allocated, potentially impacting staffing and other programs.

What happens to old Chromebooks?

When Chromebooks are no longer able to be used by students, sometimes we will take them apart and use the working parts to repair other Chromebooks. Once they are truly unsupported by Google, we work with a vendor. The vendor buys our oldest Chromebooks, so they do not end up in landfills.  We get some monies for selling them, and we use those monies to purchase additional Chromebooks.

What proposed projects are included in the Deferred Maintenance category and how much money has been allocated for these projects? Doesn’t the District pay for maintenance out of the Operations Budget?

The proposed bond would fund $120 million worth of deferred maintenance at most schools. Although the District continually addresses maintenance issues as part of its operations budget, there are other projects that are unfunded and uncompleted.

According to the Facility Condition Assessment (FCA), the district's total 10-year deferred maintenance cost was determined to be $610.1 million, which also included seismic improvements.

Deferred maintenance needs to be addressed in this proposed bond include:

• Upgrades and/or replacements to structural, mechanical and electrical systems, including HVAC upgrades and roof replacements

• Exterior enclosure improvements

• Interior finishes improvements

• Upgrades and/or replacements to commercial equipment

• Fire and life safety improvements

• Site improvement work, including adding/replacing sidewalks and repairing drainage

To find a list of proposed projects, visit this webpage and click on your student’s school.

How did BSD manage to accumulate such a large deferred maintenance deficit, and what it is doing to avoid accumulating additional significant deferred maintenance. I am of the view that facility maintenance should be part of the ordinary budgeting process, with money set aside in a capital reserve for larger periodic items like, for example, roof replacement or parking lot repaving.

Most of the $120 million for deferred maintenance in the bond is for larger projects, such as roofs, HVAC upgrades and site improvements. The general fund budget does cover regular maintenance costs and inspections, but it is not sufficient to cover larger repairs or equipment replacement. In 2019, we conducted an extensive Facilities Condition Assessment (FCA).  ​The purpose of the FCA was to help us better plan and prioritize our projects. Our hope with this bond is to be able to move from a situation where we have a significant deferred maintenance backlog to one where projects are planned consistent with their anticipated lifecycles. The district's total 10-year deferred maintenance cost was determined to be $610.1 million, which also included seismic improvements.

If all HVAC systems were updated due to COVID-19, why are updated HVACs on the bond project list?

In response to COVID-19, the District did the following in regards to HVAC:

• Introduced more outside air (OSA) in most buildings
• Extended operation run times (in general 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
• Upgraded all Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 8 filters to MERV 13

The HVAC projects in the proposed bond would replace/upgrade our oldest HVAC units. Due to the above COVID protocols, our equipment is working harder than ever, which will accelerate eventual breakdowns and failures, especially in our oldest equipment.

Will HVAC projects include CO2 monitoring?

All of our new system upgrades are built to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)  standards and mechanical/energy codes. The district hires a design/engineering team to help prepare the scope for large HVAC projects. The design/engineering team may or may not use CO2 monitoring in their proposed systems. For example, our new elementary school rebuilds use 100% outside air and do not have CO2 monitoring. The HVAC systems in the new elementary schools meet ASHRAE standards and current code. However, recent HVAC system upgrades at Highland Park Middle School and Whitford Middle School include CO2 monitors in every classroom, as recommended by the design/engineering team for those projects.

What proposed projects are included in the Additional Capacity category and how much money has been allocated for these projects? I thought BSD’s student enrollment was declining. If so, why do we need more capacity?

Enrollment forecasts are used, in part, to determine whether the district will need to add or modify facility space to meet school program or configuration needs. District adjustments were made to the Portland State University Population Research Center's (PRC) 2019-29 enrollment forecast to accommodate boundary changes, grade configuration changes and schools constructed as part of the 2014-2022 Bond Program. 

The data forecasts an overall decline in districtwide enrollment of 4.9% over the next ten years with the majority of schools projected to see enrollment declines. However, a few schools are expected to have enrollment growth. To accommodate this growth, the proposed bond would fund classroom additions at Oak Hills and Sato Elementary Schools, as well as Stoller Middle School.

Why is the District looking to add capacity to Oak Hills Elementary?

Oak Hills Elementary School currently has a permanent capacity of 475 students.  The eight existing portable classrooms add approximately 150 seats. The Oak Hills enrollment will continue to exceed the permanent capacity of the existing building. Because the enrollment is not projected to decline to a level where portable classrooms will no longer be required, the District proposes to add permanent classrooms to the school and remove the portables.

What proposed projects are included in the Security and Other Equipment category and how much money has been allocated for these projects?

The proposed bond allocates $27 million for security equipment, including additional security cameras at all schools and additional access control systems (security card readers) at all high and option schools. It also would fund school bus replacements and water bottle fillers at all schools that don't currently have them.

How many buses will be replaced and why is this important?

Bond funds would help to continue the District's scheduled replacement program by allowing the replacement of approximately 20 buses per year.  The BSD fleet consists of over 300 buses with many approaching 15 years of service. Most of our buses are diesel-powered, and bond money would allow the District to replace them with clean-burning propane or electric buses which will virtually eliminate all particulate emissions and improve air quality for students and the community. Electric buses are rapidly developing, and as districts across the nation continue to adopt them, prices likely will drop. Also, both Oregon and the federal government are adding incentives for districts to purchase electric vehicles, and bond funds would uniquely position the District to take advantage of those programs.

All those projects don’t add up to the total proposed bond amount of $723 million? What’s missing?

The proposed bond includes $50 million for management of the bond, which includes a staff of 25 project managers, coordinators, inspectors, accountants and other support staff. It also includes a contingency fund of $43 million to cover possible increases in materials and labor. In addition, if the bond passes, the District would qualify for an $8-million dollar grant from the state; that's also figured into the $723-million amount.

What is included in the proposed bond for my student’s school?

To find a list of proposed projects, visit this webpage and click on your student’s school for more details.

Why were Beaverton High School and Raleigh Hills K-8 School chosen for replacement versus repair?

A Facility Condition Index (FCI) rating showed these schools were in the worst condition of all Beaverton schools. The FCI is a ratio of the cost of repairs vs. the building replacement cost. From a long-term financial investment perspective, the most cost-effective solution is to replace these buildings rather than spend more money for repairs. 

Also, repairs would not address major functional deficiencies in these older buildings that impact students’ learning environment and safety. Each of these rebuilt schools will be multi-story buildings to better utilize existing sites; eliminate portables/auxiliary buildings at those sites; improve parking lots and traffic flow; and meet modern standards for fire protection, security and seismic design.

What’s the plan for rebuilding Beaverton High School?

The complete rebuild of Beaverton High School would be the largest project in the proposed bond at a cost of approximately $253 million. The new building would be three or four stories tall and roughly 290,000 square feet. Because there is no viable swing school, students will attend school on site during construction. The new building will likely be located on the empty grass field along SW Farmington Road. Once the new school is completed, the old one will be torn down and replaced with a parking lot or other programming. 

According to the Facilities Condition Assessment report compiled by a third-party consultant, Beaverton High School was the only high school in the district to be evaluated in critical condition. The original part of the school dates back to 1916. Over the years, more than a dozen separate additions have been made to Beaverton High School, resulting in an assortment of electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems and related inefficiencies. Parts of the building don’t have firewalls, and much of the building doesn’t meet current seismic standards. It's the only high school in the district with a seismic rating below "Collapse Prevention," meaning in the event of an earthquake, Beaverton High School would be at risk of partial or full collapse. If the proposed bond passes and the school is rebuilt, the new structure would serve as a community evacuation center in case of an earthquake.

Rebuilding Beaverton High School would eliminate about $53 million of deferred maintenance at the school.

If the proposed bond passes, design work would continue this summer with construction to begin in the summer of 2024. The rebuilt school would be slated to open in the fall of 2027 and would accommodate about 1,500 students.

Watch the video to learn more or visit the Beaverton High School Bond Project webpage.

If the optimal size for a high school is 2,200 students, why is Beaverton High School being built for 1,500 students?

The new Beaverton High School is proposed to have an enrollment capacity of 1,500 students to accommodate forecasted enrollment in the attendance area. However, the design will include a second phase to increase the capacity of the new high school to accommodate a 2,200-student enrollment, consistent with the District's education specification for high schools. The second phase will be a part of the land use approval process with the City of Beaverton and will be constructed as demand requires.

What’s the plan for rebuilding Raleigh Hills K-8 School?

The complete rebuild of Raleigh Hills would be the second largest project in the proposed bond at a cost of $44 million. (The total projected cost is $55 million, but $12 million will be rolling over from the 2014 Bond Program.) The new building would be roughly 90,000 square feet. During the construction phase, Raleigh Hills students would attend classes at a yet-to-be-announced location.

The school dates back to 1927. According to the Facilities Condition Assessment report compiled by a third-party consultant, Raleigh Hills earned the worst overall score of any school in the district. The steam pipes are original to the school and are failing.  The roof is in poor condition. The sprinkler system offers only partial coverage, and the sanitary waste system isn’t adequate for the size of the school. Seismically-speaking, it’s the third worst school in the district with a seismic rating below "Collapse Prevention," meaning in the event of an earthquake, Raleigh Hills would be at risk of partial or full collapse. If the proposed bond passes and the school is rebuilt, the new structure would serve as a community evacuation center in case of an earthquake.

Rebuilding Raleigh Hills would eliminate about $12 million of deferred maintenance at the school.

If the proposed bond passes, the rebuilt school would be slated to open in the fall of 2026 and would accommodate about 750 students.

Watch the video to learn more or visit the Raleigh Hills K-8 School Bond Project webpage.

When is construction slated to begin at Raleigh Hills? Where will students go to school in the interim?

We've tentatively scheduled construction to begin summer of 2024 and finish in time to open for fall of 2026. Regarding a temporary location, we're reviewing several options. Our goal is to select a location(s) that is as minimally disruptive to students and families as possible. We'll share more information on the plan as it becomes available.

When would other proposed bond projects start?

The bond team has a master schedule. Generally speaking, in summer 2023, the District would begin work on Sato classroom additions, the Aloha office relocation, and the Five Oaks roof and seismic work. In summer 2024, work would begin on Stoller classrooms and gym and the Westview office relocation, in addition to the Beaverton High School and Raleigh Hills rebuilds. Smaller projects would be worked into the schedule when possible.