91ÊÓƵ

There weren’t many naysayers at a school board meeting held to take comments on the proposed $548 million bond to renovate buildings in Portland Public Schools‘ system.

Of course, that could be because many of the 60 people who signed up to testify were principals or other officials from several of those schools.

The bond, which could go before voters next May, would pay for major repairs and upgrades at nine campuses and fund smaller safety and structural updates at PPS’ other 77 schools.

If approved, it could be a boon for the struggling construction industry and lead to a host of new contracts to build and repair science labs, classrooms, roofs, electrical systems and boiler systems.

Officials say the overhaul is needed because the infrastructure is so poor.

“The physical state of buildings in Portland Public Schools‘ (system) is fairly woeful and fairly sad,” said David Wynde, who moderated the meeting.

Of those opposed to the bond, most said they feared the high cost to homeowners, especially when many people are out of work.

Homeowners would have to pay $2 for every $1,000 of their assessed home value annually. For an average home worth $320,000, the cost would be $2 per $1,000 of the taxed value of $170,000 – or about $340 per year for the next six years.

Some requested cutting the bond in half. Others suggested that PPS should sell some of its underused properties to make up for the difference.

And one parent said more seismic studies should be performed before improvements are made to make sure students would be safe if a problem were to occur.

Many school principals who testified at the meeting spoke of inadequate classroom space, leaking roofs and outdated computer facilities hampering efforts to provide a good learning environment.

C.J. Sylvester, PPS’ chief operating officer, noted that the school buildings in the system are, on average, about 65 years old.

“There are mid-century and earlier boilers at many of our schools that have not been retrofitted for natural gas,” Sylvester said.

Alec Josephson, an economic analyst for ECONorthwest, also spoke to the board. He told members that the bond could help Portland’s economy rebound from the recession.

In his analysis, the bond could create 2,600 jobs over the six-year construction period and could lead to $34 million in economic activity in Portland.

The board will discuss the issue in more detail at its finance committee meeting on Dec. 7 and at its next board meeting on Dec. 13.