Hillsboro School District's $169 million bond measure will build new schools and improve safety, heating and ventilation, and technology infrastructure on several campuses.

The fourth-largest school district in Oregon, Hillsboro serves 19,200 students in 32 schools. Most elementary and middle schools have reached or exceeded capacity and growth projections indicate the district can expect to enroll 400 more students a year for the next several years.

The bond will allow the district to accommodate the projected student population through 2012.

Specific bond projects include building four new elementary schools, increasing the capacity of three middle schools, and conducting educational-facility improvements districtwide.

The cost to taxpayers

• A 20-year bond for $169 million
• $1.25 per $1,000 assessed property value
• $250 a year for a home assessed at $200,000

The bond measure proposal was developed based on recommendations made by a community task force formed in January 2006. The task force held community meetings in January and February 2006 and analyzed the district's facility needs in depth.

The districts' projects were defined using elements of previous successful campaign strategies:

• Identifying the breadth of needs
• Commissioning a population and facilities study
• Convening a community group for discussion
• Seeking participation from community leaders
• Engaging the community in the process
• Allowing a community group to formulate recommendations

The district conducted community surveys in November 2005 and May 2006. The first survey helped establish broad parameters of the bond based on community responses; the second refined some questions and tested new alternatives.

Once the package was approved by the school board, the district developed a comprehensive informational campaign that included publications, videos, e-mail messages, community meetings, and presentations throughout the community.

Several community and school board members formed a speakers' bureau that delivered more than 20 presentations to local civic, community, and social organizations between August and November. Positive feedback about the presentations came back to the district.

An early challenge

The community wasn't in favor of razing its 80-year-old middle school. Two community presentations at the school and facility tours helped demonstrate to voters the high cost of operating and maintaining that facility.

A political action committee began organizing in February 2006, separate from the district's informational outreach. Led by a Hillsboro School Board member, a small steering committee of business representatives, parents, and teachers began planning for the campaign.

In the fall, the political action committee hired a campaign manager to execute the plan with direct mailings, radio ads and canvassing. In September, the group placed ads in the local newspaper, participated in back-to-school nights, held several phone sessions, and focused on fundraising.

A strong element of the campaign was the voters' pamphlet, which carried eight statements in support of the bond and none in opposition.

The fundraising plan initially focused on individuals and small businesses, but it became clear that larger corporate and business donations were essential. The campaign manager led an aggressive fundraising effort that secured $64,000.