Hermiston voters reject $104 million school bond

"It is certainly disappointing to see the outcome of the election results," said Hermiston School District spokesperson Maria Duron Wednesday morning.

District officials had spent three years analyzing and planning in preparation for asking the community to support replacing, expanding, and upgrading schools to accommodate the growing numbers of students. The process involved a large number of staff and community members who served on the Facility Master Planning Committee, the Citizens Review Committee, and various subcommittees.

When voters had the chance to vote on the bond measure on May 16, 58% of voters turned it down, with only 42% in favor of the bond.

“The election results indicate that we have more work to do in educating the community about the challenges facing our growing district,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fred Maiocco. “The election results will require district administration to work with the board of directors to consider other possible solutions for the facility challenges we are facing.”

If approved, the May 16 bond would have allowed the district to replace Rocky Heights and Highland Hills Elementary Schools at their current locations; build a new elementary school on district-owned property near Theater Lane; expand Hermiston High School; and address deferred maintenance, parking and ventilation systems at Sandstone Middle School.

"Our community leaders and our school board will try to find out the underlying root causes that caused our bond not to pass," Duron said. "I know that there are going to be some tough decisions up ahead for our school board members, but we will leave it up to them to decide what direction we need to go as a district."

Unfortunately, that direction could mean cuts in other areas in order to make sure there is enough room for all the students who enroll in Hermiston schools.

"We currently don't have the funding to purchase modular classes," said Duron. "So if we need to make those purchases, the money would need to come out of the same funding that we use to pay for classroom supplies and matierials and textbooks and employee wages, so that may mean that we see an increase in class sizes."

She stressed that the district will do everything it can to ensure that quality of education doesn't suffer as district officials try to work around those budget obstacles.

In 2008 voters approved a $69.9 million bond, which replaced Sunset and West Park Elementary Schools on their sites and replaced Armand Larive Middle School on district-owned property at SW 9th Street and Gettman Road.