Yes, the District has pursued grants, and was notified after the election in June 2024 that the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program was received. Although, Molalla River School District did not qualify for this based on financial need and was drawn last in the lottery portion: the other districts ahead of Molalla did not pass their bonds, so we moved up on the list.

https://www.oregon.gov/ode/schools-and-districts/grants/pages/oscim-program.aspx

The grant funds are part of the Bond project budget, with the bond proceeds, premium and interet earned. These funds are tracked separately from all other school funding sources. The Bond Oversight Committee and the School Board receive regular reports on these funds. The Bond Oversight Committee, required by ballot language provides citizen oversight and reviews bond related expenditures.

The Oversight Committee reports periodically to the baord and may be asked to make recommendations to the Board. The Board of Education is responsible for the budget. Due to the Board's consistent conservative fiscal policy the District earned an A+ bond rating.

Molalla River School District Bond

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is a school bond?

Why now?

How could improving our schools help the community?

How could investing in schools impact me, even if I don't have kids in school?

What is the Community Bond Advisory Committee (CBAC)?

Where can I vote?

Oversight Questions

Will there be independent oversight to ensure bond funds are spent properly?

What will the oversight committee members do?

Who will be on the Oversight Committtee

What about grants?

Design Questions

Where can I see the replacement school design?

How big will the replacement school be?

What does the replacement school include?

Will the theater be large enough to host band, choir, theater performances with a full audience versus having to continue to perform at the the high school?

Will our security systems connect to law enforcement?

How will the replacement school impact sports?

What are Life Skills and Behavior Program Supports?

Will our security systems connect directly to law enforcement?

What is included in support for Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways?

Why are you moving the road that buses use to the Lynn Lane side of the school?

What about accessibility?

What about the memorial garden/trees?

Athletics

Why do we need three gyms?

What about the soccer and baseball fields?

Does Molalla Youth Sports support the plan?

Financial Questions

Can bond funds leave the Molalla School District or be spent on things not in the projects listed?

How much extra would I likely be paying in taxes if a bond approved?

What is the difference between my property’s Real Market Value (RMV) and Assessed Value (AV)?

How is the Assessed Value (AV) of farm or forestland properties determined?

How do I find the Assessed Value (AV) of my property?

How could improving our schools help the community?

How could investing in schools impact me, even if I don't have kids in school?

Does the $77 million include SDC charges street work and demo of the old building?

Do apartments also pay for the bond?

How many years will the bond take to pay off?

What about Construction Excise Funds?

What about Lottery Funds?

Has the District considered getting grants to build the school?

How was the 3% contingency determined?

Where is the breakdown of the $77 million proposed budget.