Frequently Asked Questions

It has been 20 years since the passage of the last bond in Gladstone School District. Since that time, our school buildings have aged and safety and security needs have evolved. Many of our schools have outdated roofs, plumbing, boilers and HVAC systems that are failing or past their usable life. And several schools are in need of updated fire alarm systems, secure entryways or require ADA accessibility upgrades. To address these critical repairs and updates, the district will be placing a bond on the November 2026 ballot. 

We took some time after the May 2025 election to understand the feedback we received from voters and our community. The facilities needs of the district will continue to grow as our schools continue to age. District leadership worked diligently to revise the bond package to be both fiscally responsible while still addressing the critical infrastructure and building systems needs of our schools. 

The November 2026 Bond is a smaller ask at $55.3 million and if passed, is estimated to reduce the current tax rate by $1.45 per $1,000 of assessed value. This would generate an estimated $438 in savings per year for the average homeowner in the Gladstone School District.

In order to reach a smaller bond amount, a number of items were eliminated, including projects like updated flooring, finishes, paint, furniture, retrofits (including partitions), re-paving, replacing storm system, creation of flexible learning spaces, kitchen upgrades, transformer replacements, and technology upgrades. These needs continue to exist.

Fix Failing School Buildings & Preserve Facilities

• Roof restoration or replacement
• Plumbing updates
• HVAC system upgrades
• Electrical system updates
• Updated interior finishes (paint, flooring, signage)
• Building exterior updates (new siding, paint, brick)
• Restroom updates
• New boilers
• Updates to play areas and athletic facilities including turf fields, track repairs and field/stadium lighting
• Paving and sidewalk repairs
• Storm system replacement

Safe, Secure, Accessible Schools

• New fire alarm and life safety systems
• New secure entryways
• New/upgraded security cameras
• New security alarms and lockdown systems
• Updated building access controls and door hardware
• Asbestos and mold abatement
• ADA upgrades

The Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program provides matching grants to districts that pass a local general obligation bond. If the community passes the bond, the state will provide the Gladstone School District with a $10.2 million matching grant. This will provide the district with additional funds for facility improvements. 

The Board of Directors has not formally discussed the option of consolidation. Should the bond not pass and facility or operations equipment fail, the only funds the district can use to repair facilities comes from general fund dollars that support classrooms. The Board will reassess the general fund budget and possible future options if the November 2026 bond does not pass.

No. The Oregon Department of Education does not provide funding for school construction or major renovation. It does, however, provide the dollars that we utilize to deliver instruction to students and operate.

Oregon’s school funding model is somewhat unique. The legislature allocates dollars each year for teaching and learning, but construction of new schools and the modernization and preservation of existing schools is the responsibility of the local community. Funds for capital construction can be raised through elections and the support of community members for local tax levies.

Oregon is one of the few states in the nation that does not provide direct funding support from the state for building schools or major capital renovations. School districts are expected to finance these projects with general obligation bonds (construction bonds) authorized by the district’s local voters.

Any registered voter that currently resides within the Gladstone School District can vote in the November 2026 election. In order to be eligible to vote, you must be a US citizen and 18 years old. Please make sure your voter registration is up to date. To register to vote, please go online.

Every dollar spent from the 2006 bond was used toward projects the school district committed to in the Voters’ Pamphlet. This link has more information from 2006.

The assessed value of a home is generally used for tax purposes including calculating the bond rate. Oregon began using assessed value for tax purposes through the passage of Measure 50 in 1997. Though homeowners usually want their property values to grow over time, in this case, it’s better when the home’s value is lower. That’s because the higher the assessed value, the higher the property taxes.

Market value is used by lenders, buyers and sellers to estimate the appropriate selling price given current market conditions. This is the value you may see on websites such as ZIllow, Redfin or other real estate services. It’s essentially the value that assessors attempt to come up with before applying the assessment rate. An easy way to think about market value is this: What would a prospective buyer be willing to spend on a particular home and/or what would the seller be willing to accept if it were sold today?

For more information about assessed value vs real market value, go to this informational video from the OACTC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ_BkTQZmCg&t=78s

For more information about how to understand your tax bill, go to the Clackamas County Assessor’s website.

To find out the assessed value of your property, go to the Clackamas County Assessor’s website at http://ascendweb.clackamas.us. For more information about your tax statement, go to https://www.clackamas.us/at/taxbill.

A community with good schools can positively affect home values, area pride, business attractiveness and help shape the future workforce. Students can go on to be skilled workers and engaged citizens that contribute to the local economy and community in various ways. School facilities provide community organizations with gathering spaces for sporting activities and various events.