The Gresham-Barlow School District has voted to move forward its school bond measure plans for the November 2013 ballot.
At its Thursday, April 4, meeting, the board voted to finalize ballot measure language to seek voter approval of a $210 million bond measure.
The bond would fund school renovations plus security and technology upgrades throughout the district. The board will vote on the ballot language at its July school board meeting.
On Thursday, March 7, the board accepted the recommendation by an advisory committee to proceed with a bond election.
While the advisory committee recommended taking the measure before voters in May 2013, the board favored waiting until the November 2013 ballot.
School board members voted to direct staff to craft the language and an explanatory statement for the November ballot.
The bond would rebuild the almost 100-year-old Gresham High School, repurpose West Gresham Elementary School and consolidate Deep Creek Elementary School and Damascus Middle School into a kindergarten through eighth-grade model.
Additionally, all schools would receive safety and security improvements, upgrade buildings that average 40 years old, improve career technical education and STEM classes (science technology, engineering and mathematics) and allow for increased enrollment and full-day kindergarten.