An election will be held in the Siskiyou Union High School District on Nov. 4 to authorize the sale of up to $12,500,000 in bonds of the District to finance school facilities.
District trustees approved placing the bond measure on the November ballot during a special meeting Monday.
The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue is $21.45 per $100,000 of assessed valuation, according to a tax rate statement signed by Richard Holmes, who was the interim superintendent until Mike Matheson took over the position on Aug. 1.
Board members considered all viable options in deciding to place a $12,500,000 General Obligation Bond on the upcoming Nov. 4 ballot during a special meeting on July 30.
Much of the impetus for the board’s decision stems from deferred maintenance issues coupled with Extreme Hardship Grant funding that requires matching funds which could possibly be raised through the bond. Of particular concern to the board is the deteriorating condition of McCloud and Happy Camp High Schools.
“We can’t afford to wait. Time is of the essence. If we don’t move ahead now we’ll have to wait until 2010 for possible funding,” Holmes said. “If the safety related construction problems with some of the existing buildings are not fixed soon more damage will occur and students and staff could be placed at risk.”
The $12,500,000 bond was recommended for a maximum term of repayment of 40 years by the consultants.
To qualify for Extreme Hardship Grant funding the bond measure must first be approved by the voters. Fifty-five percent of the vote is needed to pass the bond measure.
“Getting this bond measure passed is going to take a lot of cooperative work by everyone. I know what it’s like to get people to say yes when their pocketbooks are tight,” said board member Arlandus Clark. “We are going to need everybody’s help and we don’t have much time. It’s going to take a lot of outreach.”
Jennifer West, one of the bond consultants said, “The process may seem daunting given the time frame we have to operate in. It will be tricky, but it can be done. I’ve handled other similar bonds for rural communities and we were successful. I believe we can accomplish this if we all work together.”
The customary agreement between school boards and bond consultants and attorneys is contingency based. They only get paid when the bond is passed and sold and the district receives the agreed upon funds.
“The priorities are obvious and we have an obligation to do everything possible to ensure the education and safety of the students in our district. If we wait things are not going to get any better,” said Board President George Winkelman. “This may not be the best time to put a  bond like this before the public but it makes the most sense given what’s at stake.”
The Board of Trustees agreed to meet again in special session before the filing date   of August 8, 2008 to finalize some of the details regarding the bond.
Present at the meeting were  trustees Velma Nile, John Hines, Lori Harch, Arlandus Clark, George Chambers and George Winkelman. Trustee Margaret DeBortoli was absent.