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Portland Public Schools officials are discussing plans that will impact the district’s next bid for a construction bond. After a $548 million proposal narrowly failed in May, the district is opting for a longer, more inclusive planning process it hopes will stir up more support.

Approximately 50 people on Tuesday night attended the first meeting of the newly named Long-Range Facilities Plan Advisory Committee, which will spend the next several months holding public meetings where people can weigh in on the size and details of the next construction package.

The district’s move toward a more inclusive process may attract more support from the construction community, according to John Killin, president of the .

鈥淚 think that a more open process really helps,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen the construction industry will know more what’s coming, and the public will also better understand what they’re voting for.鈥�

The previous bond request was the largest pitched by a local government in Oregon history. The money would have mostly gone toward reconstruction of eight schools, as well as various improvements at the district’s 77 others.

Superintendent Carole Smith said at the meeting that months of both formal and informal meetings since the voters’ decision have led her to conclude that the community wants to be more involved in planning of the next measure.

Although their reasons for rejecting the measure were diverse, voters consistently said that the construction plans should be based on a longer-term perspective, Smith said.

鈥淲e provided them with feedback during the previous campaign, and ultimately, school systems 鈥� not only PPS, but districts around the state 鈥� need better plans for the future,鈥� said Mike Salsgiver, executive director of the .

Approximately 30 people were invited to serve on the Long-Range Facilities Plan Advisory Committee, according to PPS spokesman Matt Shelby. The group, which will meet six more times, represents a wide range of interests and expertise, including school officials, architects, parents and nonprofit representatives.

鈥淭his time they’re coming in with a realistic long-term plan that includes real data.鈥� Killin said. 鈥淭hat will help the industry and the taxpayers. And contractors are taxpayers themselves 鈥� they watch their dollars wisely.鈥�

Key considerations will include a 10-year student enrollment forecast, analyses of the facilities and their ability to support Portland’s shifting population, and issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, seismic safety and energy use.

鈥淭he Portland staff is on the right track, and ultimately, it’s good for construction because hopefully our members will compete for the projects,鈥� Salsgiver said. 鈥淏ut even more than that, education is fundamental to economic success, and that is fundamental to our industry’s success. And we’re supporting that chain.鈥�

The committee is charged with updating the district’s facilities plan by May 2012. The plan, although not a bond measure, will provide the groundwork for the district’s next proposal, PPS Chief Operating Officer C.J. Sylvester said on Tuesday.

After the committee submits its recommendations, they will be open to public comment. The school board is expected to adopt the updated facilities plan in June 2012. The next bond measure could go before voters as early as November 2012.