Editorial

Scappoose school projects are moving forward in good trust

The South County Spotlight, Feb 24, 2010

Erica Ryberg / The South County Spotlight

PAYDIRT– Scappoose High teacher Amy McNeil broke ground on the school’s upcoming auditorium in December.

Scappoose School District planners have done a remarkable job pulling together the necessary elements to not only get the monumental $33.3 million bond levy passed last November, but to responsibly administer those dollars to ensure the best investment for taxpayers.

Of all the elements at play, the most crucial has been the human element.

Every step of the bond process, from its inception to passage to execution at the build level, has played out with the kind of refreshing transparency that should be standard in any public process. The district used a Citizens Oversight Committee, and a Long Range Facility Planning Committee, that has included community members with myriad perspectives, all of which have been encapsulated in the strategy for spending bond dollars.

The district’s latest effort to solicit suggestions on how to spend what is anticipated to be a significant balance in contingency funds furthers the district’s commitment to use the dollars in this responsible fashion.

Spending the estimated $250,000 to $350,000 that has accumulated in the contingency fund on other, necessary school projects is legal as spelled out in the levy language voters approved, and having the community and building administrators vet the priority of those projects in a public forum is very appropriate.

Superintendent Paul Peterson said reserves will remain on hand to cover the expense of any post-construction tweaks that could – and always do – arise, and said the school board will consider a rebate to the taxpayers.

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