Dear AOS Family and Friends,
On May 16th, 2017, you will be asked to vote on a bond measure for Greater Albany Public Schools. I want to share some information about Ballot Measure 22-165.
Greater Albany Public Schools serves more than 9,500 students, making it the 13th largest district in the state. Almost all of the schools are currently enrolled at capacity levels, and projects show steady enrollment growth in the next five years.
We have aging schools that need important facility improvements to protect the community’s investment in schools. Most of our facilities were built between 1948 and 1971, and they are showing their age. Most need regular repairs and maintenance, and the aging plumbing and HVAC systems are inefficient compared to modern systems.
The plan includes the first phase of a process to rebuild West Albany High School, one of the District’s oldest buildings. Architects estimate that rebuilding the school will be less expensive than renovating it, and the new plan will better meet educational needs.
This bond will fund construction of new classrooms to relieve overcrowding and improve instructional opportunities for students. It will fund new vocational.technical programs at both the middle and high school levels.
The main goal for this bond measure:
- Protect the community’s investment in its existing school buildings by completing critical repairs;
- Save energy costs and improve the safety and security of students;
- Expand vocational and technical educational opportunities at middle and high schools;
- Address growing enrollment and relieve current overcrowding by constructing additional classrooms and a cafeteria at Oak Grove Elementary School and a new elementary school in NE Albany;
- Rebuild classrooms/commons/auditorium at West Albany High School as the first phase of the rebuild of the aging building.
You will hear more about the bond between now and the election in May. I invite you to contact me any time if you have questions. We also have a bond information website: http://albany.k12.or.us/district/bondinfo.
Sincerely,
John Hunter, Principal