Gladstone School District
Bond PROPOSAL OVERVIEW
Facts and details to help community members make an informed decision
Here You’ll Find:
An overview of the current bond proposal when it’s available
How school bonds work
What needs have been identified
What alternatives have been explored
How funding decisions would affect the district.
Our Goal:
To organize relevant information in one place for easy review.
QUICK FACTS
Proposed Amount:
TBD*
Primary Focus:
Safety,
Structural Repairs, Facility Upgrades
Bond Term:
TBD*
Election Date:
November 3, 2026
Estimated Tax Rate:
$___* per $1,000
assessed value
*Numbers will be provided as soon as funding requests have been finalized
HOW IT WORKSWhat is a SCHOOL Bond?
In Oregon, our main school funding formula (the State School Fund) is designed for salaries, instruction, transportation, and daily operations. A school bond is a way for a school district to borrow money to pay for large building projects that are not covered by the State School Fund. Voters must approve the bond before the district can borrow the money.
The money can be used for things like:
Repairing or replacing roofing
Fixing heating and cooling systems
Making safety upgrades
Improving accessibility
Renovating or building school facilities
The bond is paid back over time through property taxes and are commonly used by districts across Oregon, including Gladstone School District, Oregon City School District, and North Clackamas School District.
What a School Bond Is Not:
A school bond cannot be used for:
Teacher or staff salaries
School programs or curriculum
Sports teams or extracurricular activities
Daily operating expenses
Bond funds are legally limited to building and facility improvements.
POTENTIAL PROPOSAL INCLUSIONS How Would the Proposed Bond FundS BE USED?
If approved by voters, bond funds would be legally restricted to capital improvements such as building repairs, safety upgrades, and infrastructure replacement.
The proposal includes:
Safety & Structural Repairs
Replacing aging roofs, addressing structural deficiencies, and upgrading seismic resilience.Building Systems Replacement
Modernizing HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems that are beyond service life.Accessibility Improvements
Improving ADA access and ensuring facilities meet current standards.Classroom Modernization
Updating aging classroom spaces to support current educational needs.
Bond funds cannot be used for teacher salaries, district operations, or curriculum.
"HAVE YOU TRIED…"What Other Options Were Considered?
Before proposing this bond, the district evaluated alternative approaches to addressing facility needs.
Using the General Fund
The district’s general fund primarily supports staffing, student programs, and daily operations. Redirecting these funds toward major capital repairs would require reductions in staffing or educational services. Gladstone School District has already cut their staff by 20% in 2025 and has been so diligent in their budgeting that they even earned the Meritorious Budget Award in 2024.Phased Repairs Without a Bond
Addressing repairs incrementally through annual maintenance budgets was evaluated. However, the scale of required structural and system replacements exceeds available yearly maintenance funding, and delaying replacements may increase long-term costs.Grants and State Funding
While the district continues to pursue grant opportunities, such funding is typically limited, competitive, and often requires local matching funds.Selling Surplus Land
Specifically, an unused portion of the Kraxberger Middle School property and/or property near John Wetten Elementary School. While the sale of this land will cover the Public Employees Retirement (PERS) Fund rate adjustments expected in July of 2027 ($1.5 million), this sale alone is not enough to cover the needed building repairs.
How Would This Bond Impact Property Taxes?
If approved, the estimated tax rate would be approximately $___* per $1,000 of assessed property value.
For example: A home assessed at $400,000 would pay approximately $___* per year.
The bond would be repaid over a pre-agreed period of time.
Total repayment, including interest, is estimated at $___*.
Property tax obligations vary depending on assessed value, not market value.
*Exact numbers will be provided once funding requests have been determined.
IF THE BOND is not approved
If the bond does not pass, the current bond will still end in 2027. That payment would stop.
However, without funding to fix major building problems, the district may need to consider joining a neighboring school district in the future.
If that happened, local property owners would pay into that district’s bond instead. For example, that could mean joining either Oregon City School District or North Clackamas School District and paying their bond rates.
The goal of this bond proposal is to address building repairs while keeping the district independent.
How Have Previous Bond Funds Been Used?
In 2006, voters approved a bond totaling $39,850,000 (worth over $65 million today).
This amount was paid up front and spent immediately, then paid back over the course of 20 years.
According to district reports, the funds were used for:
-
307,388 square feet of Roofing
Gladstone Center for Children & Families:
33,288 square feetJohn Wetten Elementary School:
43,824 square feetKraxberger Middle School:
79,639 square feetGladstone High School:
150,637 square feet -
Established Gladstone Center for Children & Families
In addition to kindergarten, GCCF houses:
County health and dental clinics
Children's Relief Nursery
Head Start
Gladstone Teaching Preschool
Clackamas Education Service District offices
Lifeworks Northwest
Oregon Department of Human Services staff -
Improvements at John Wetten Elementary School
In addition to the additional classroom space from the creation of GCCF, the bond provided much needed improvements including:
Refurbishing the 1958 wing
Upgrading heating, ventilation, plumbing, electrical, safety and security systems
-
Improvements at Kraxberger Middle School
New band and choir classrooms
Heating, ventilation, plumbing, electrical, safety and security system upgrades
-
Improvements at Gladstone High School
Upgrade of an applied vocational, technology and science center with integrated computer programs to prepare students for future and current careers
New band and choir classrooms
Heating, ventilation, plumbing, electrical, safety and security system upgrades
Library, cafeteria/kitchen, and athletic improvements
Important Dates &
Voting Information
Voter Registration Deadline: October 13, 2026
Ballots Mailed: October 14, 2026
Election Day: November 3, 2026
Official election information can be found through the county elections office.