Bond Program

How can I find out what projects take place at each school?

The bond program scope is based upon the approved bond projects that were developed in the Long Range Facilities Master Plan in 2017 and approved by the school board in January 2017 before placing the bond measure on the ballot. Projects and timelines are located on the School Projects page here.

What does the Bond Oversight Committee do?

The Bond Oversight Committee serves as an advisory committee to the superintendent to provide transparency and accountability to our community. Visit the Bond Oversight Committee page for more information.

How will the school bond impact our schools?

Every school building in the district will be impacted by the bond. The bond program includes capital repairs and projects to modernize classrooms to meet the needs of current educational delivery models. Projects include safety and security improvements, major renovations and repairs, modernized educational spaces, and capacity improvements including two replacement elementary schools and permanent classrooms to replace aging modulars at all K-5 schools.

Who decided on the bond projects?

Long range facilities planning is an ongoing process within the District’s Facilities and Transportation Department. The CSD Long Range Facilities Plan, adopted by the School Board in 2017, addresses capital repair needs and the educational adequacy of district facilities. The Corvallis School Board prioritized projects to be completed as part of the bond program.

Why were some school buildings renovated rather than replaced?

The decision to replace an older building depends on the school building’s construction and condition, educational adequacy, site feasibility, and the scope of the work to be completed. Lincoln and Bessie Coleman Elementary (formerly Husky) Schools would have required capital repairs that are more than 70% of the cost to replace with a new school building and would still not meet the needs of current educational delivery.

Do bond projects address potential growth in school enrollment?

Based on current trends, we do not anticipate growth in enrollment. However the bond program is creating 13 permanent K-5 classrooms to eliminate temporary modulars and expanding capacity by 349 students.

Will this bond lower class sizes?

Bond projects will reduce school crowding by adding permanent classroom and collaborative learning spaces in most elementary schools in the district. In order to lower class sizes, hiring additional teachers would be required and capital construction bonds cannot pay for operational expenses such as staffing.

Has the district maximized solar power at all buildings?

Our goal is to create buildings that model and stimulate learning about sustainability. Solar installations are planned for all school sites. In some cases, the installation is primarily for educational purposes. At Lincoln, the 149.4 kW solar array on the roof provides renewable energy to the building and connects to a battery system that supports building resiliency, allowing critical systems to operate during a power outage. A partnership with the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition will help us maximize solar potential throughout the District as part of their Solarize Corvallis initiative.

Are their STEM improvements (science, technology, engineering, and math) included in the bond program?

Yes, hands-on, STEM learning is a priority in Corvallis schools. All K-5 elementary schools will have dedicated classrooms for project-based art and science learning. Plans for Franklin K-8 include the renovation of two classrooms support middle school science instruction and Cheldelin MS converted an unused wood shop to a STEM lab. Both high schools have upgraded infrastructure for Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. View the full list here.

What is the taxpayer cost for the school bond levy?

The cost to taxpayers is a levy rate at or below $1.98 per $1,000 of assessed value, as promised in the bond measure. The actual average tax rate since the bond levy passed in 2018 has been $1.89 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Has the COVID-19 pandemic had a budget impact on the bond projects that are in process?

Yes and despite the challenges of COVID-19, the District is on track to complete all of the bond projects with the available funds and work is being completed with minimal disruption to the teaching and learning process. The projects associated with remaining funds are scheduled to bid from November 2021 through January 2022, which will further secure our ability to complete the promised work within available funds.

Will there be enough funds for the final three school projects (Mt. View Elementary, Franklin K-8, and Harding Center/College Hill)?

Yes, we anticipate all bond promises will be completed with available funding. Additional resources including earnings on bond proceeds, grants, and reimbursements bring the total approved bond program funds to nearly $260 million. These additional funds have provided a critical buffer for this work to be accomplished without impacting the taxpayer’s levy rate.

Where can I find the most recent financial reports for the bond program?

The school board receives regular reports from the District’s Facilities and Transportation Director including a financial report for all projects. All reports are available in BoardBook and also published by year and report date on the Bond Program webpage here.

What type of design standards are being used for school projects?

Design Standards are guided by the thirteen Design Guidance Principles in areas of safety, teaching & learning, operations, and health & wellness. They were developed collaboratively by four Design Guidance Teams comprised of nearly 80 staff, students, and community members and supported by school district leadership and architect teams from DLR Group and Pivot Architecture. View the Design Guidance Principles here.

How will these projects impact school gardens?

School gardens are an important component of outdoor learning opportunities for students. If required by construction projects, school gardens will be relocated on the school site.

Are Lincoln and Bessie Coleman (formerly Husky) Elementary Schools designed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards?

Rather than expending resources on LEED documentation and certification, we developed a set of tailored sustainability design standards in collaboration with representatives of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition. This included a feasibility study for solar maximization at all schools and a third party review of school projects by Brendle Group to ensure sustainability design standards were met. Lincoln Elementary features extensive sustainable design elements and is designed to the Energy Trust of Oregon’s Path to Net Zero program which focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of the building. Bessie Coleman Elementary was not eligible for the program, but features many of the same sustainable features as Lincoln.

What are examples of capital repair projects?

Capital repairs are taking place throughout the district including, Infrastructure Upgrades (electrical, plumbing, lighting, heating/cooling, ventilation); Seismic Upgrades (roof framing, shear wall additions, and roof-wall-foundation connections); Site Improvements (outdoor lighting, re-surfacing, paving, site circulation improvements); and Envelope Upgrades (replacement windows, doors, roofing, and siding)

What are the district’s sustainability design standards?

In alignment with Corvallis School District Sustainability Policy EDDA and the 2019 CSD Sustainability Management Plan, we are committed to support a healthy and comfortable learning environment and utilize buildings systems (heating, cooling, and lighting) that are energy efficient. Other sustainability elements include solar generation when feasible, water-efficient fixtures and separate metering for irrigation, support for multi-model transportation, waste diversion and composting. All designs are reviewed by our third-party contractor, Brendle Group, to ensure guidelines are met.

What are the health implications for synthetic turf sports fields that include the use of crumb rubber?

Crumb rubber is the most commonly used infill for synthetic sports fields and most school districts have transitioned to synthetic sports fields from grass fields. Synthetic turf offers a positive net health impact because of the reduced risk of impact injuries.

How is the bond program being managed?

Wenaha Group was hired to manage the bond program and Gerding Builders and Fortis Construction were hired as general contractors for our projects. They actively recruit and hire local sub-contractors. School district leadership works with the Wenaha team to achieve the bond goals and to maximize the community’s investment. The bond program is creating a positive impact on our local economy. More than 70% of construction contracts have been awarded to businesses that are locally owned or at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by owners who are female, Asian, Black, Hispanic, or Native American.

When did projects begin? Do projects disrupt school operations?

Projects began in the summer of 2018 and will continue through 2023. In all cases, construction activities are phased to minimize disruption in school operations. View the current bond program timeline.

When will the new (replacement) schools open?

Lincoln Elementary welcomed students to the new building in the fall of 2021. The new Bessie Coleman Elementary welcomed students following Winter Break, in January 2022.