Taylor Wilhour for South Lane School Board

05/18/2021

It's election day! Get your ballots in by 8 PM if you haven't already. It's too late to mail them, so use the drop box on Gibbs, in front of the library.

01/21/2016

An important point that comes late in the article is that the new tax rate will still be below the $2 per $1000 that was approved in 2000. The rate has come down to the current $1.44 because of good fiscal management by the District and the rise in property values over time.

COTTAGE GROVE — Residents of the South Lane School District will likely vote on a bond measure in May on whether to build a new elementary school and upgrade the district’s heavily used swimming pool. The measure probably would increase district bond property tax rates, because it would come on top…

12/12/2015

The bond for building a new elementary school (to replace Harrison) will be on the ballot for May 2016. This project is very important for the school district and now is the best time to get it done. Here are some highlights of the what and why of the school bond:

1. We really need a new school. Harrison School was originally built for 125 students and now serves about 450. The climate control and electrical systems are undersized and so old that it's hard to get replacement parts when there's a problem.

2. Fixing Harrison school would cost almost as much as building a new school, and it would still have problems.

3. Tax rates will not change. The bond for the high school is paid down to the point where interest is coming down, so the new bond would simply extend the current tax rate.

4. Every school will benefit: The bond includes money for deferred maintenance projects and technology and security upgrades.

5. $4 million will come from the state (if we act now): There is a one-time fund for capital projects that the state put into the last budget and the first round of grants will be awarded in May 2016. If the bond measure passes, the $4 million comes with it.

10/19/2015

Calling all Grovers! There will be a meeting to discuss the bond to replace Harrison School and make other improvements throughout the district TONIGHT at 5:30 in the CGHS library. We will be talking about the need for replacing Harrison, why now is the best possible time to seek a bond, and how we're going to spread the information and boost public support. Please come if you are able. This is important to our entire community, not just our students.

03/18/2015

I toured Harrison School last night and the need to replace that building could not be more clear. It was built in the late '40s for 150 students and now holds 425 or so. It's been added onto many times but critical infrastructure like wiring and climate control could only be expanded so much and now would be woefully inadequate if they worked well, which they don't. Fixing the many problems wouldn't be possible over the course of a summer break and would cost millions of dollars. On top of that, the site itself isn't really big enough for the school we need and has absolutely no parking space of its own, only on-street parking. The people who have been making it work at Harrison should be commended for the job they are doing under difficult circumstances. They need and should have a place to learn and teach that helps them to succeed instead of challenging them on a daily basis.

02/26/2015

South Lane residents! Please take this brief survey about the bond measure to replace Harrison School and make other improvements around the district. Thanks!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SchoolBondSurvey