Board mulls bond levy Monday night

Replacing a sagging Joseph Gale School could cost $16 million all by itself

By Nancy Townsley

The Forest Grove News-Times, Mar 4, 2010, Updated Mar 4, 2010

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A preliminary proposal to place a multi-million-dollar capital construction bond levy on the November ballot will go to the Forest Grove School Board Monday night.

District officials met with seven community groups during February to gauge the level of support for a possible levy to pay for a number of projects, including classroom space at the high school and reconstruction of Joseph Gale Elementary School.

While there’s no final figure yet — a facilities group was due to decide on the money Tuesday night after the News-Times’ went to press — the district has been busy pushing the levy train down the tracks.

Superintendent Yvonne Curtis and communications director Connie Potter have made pitches to Forest Grove and Cornelius city leaders, parents, business leaders, union members, teachers, faith community leaders and volunteer coordinators over the last two weeks, asking them if they’d get behind a bond.

So far, they’re getting a bright green light.

“People have been very supportive,” said Potter. “They realize this is a real opportunity to get some much-needed work done on our buildings.”

Voters rejected a $50 million levy request, which would have augmented high school facilities and rebuilt Joseph Gale, in 2006. A Facilities Task Force reconvened last month to come up with a revamped list of must-haves.

‘100 percent invested’

For Kristie Lesser, mother of a first-grader at Joseph Gale, replacing the 56-year-old school is a no-brainer.

“I’m 100 percent invested in this,” said Lesser, who sits on the task force. “We’re asking for basic needs. There’s no hot water in the classrooms or in the bathrooms.”

Lesser wants to see a brand-new school rise on the site at 3130 18th Ave. in Forest Grove.

Because the school has an open-air design, she said, kindergartners must walk outside to get to a bathroom, even in the winter. And, it needs a new roof.

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