The Gervais School District’s facilities are outdated, inadequate and failing, according to district leaders.
A local option bond could be the answer for Gervais and schools around Oregon in similar situations. OSBA can help.
Time is running out to register for this year’s Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference on Feb. 16 at the Salem Convention Center. The biennial event is packed with support and resources to help school leaders, from launching a bond campaign to implementing construction.
Online registration ends Feb. 2. Registered attendees have until Jan. 30 to take advantage of a special rate at The Grand Hotel connected to the convention center.
Bond campaigns require months of careful planning, assessing what a district or community college needs and what the community is willing to pay for. If successful, the work will continue for years as school leaders bid out construction and oversee progress. Effective communication is crucial throughout so the community knows what to expect and what the schools are doing.
The OSBA conference agenda brings together experts in construction, finance, marketing, communications and school leadership to share what they have learned from triumphs as well as failures.
Gervais, a small and rural district, has failed in recent bond efforts and is considering asking voters again. They say they have some lessons to share. Breaks between informative workshops provide opportunities to network with peers like Gervais.
The conference will open with the popular “Learn from the Winners Panel.” Forest Grove, Creswell and Rogue River school district leaders will tell how they passed bonds in difficult environments in the past 15 months.
