Decision 2024: Jefferson County votes could help $97.7 million Redmond school bond ensure success

(Update: Adding video, comments from schools spokesman, superintendent)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- The renewal bond measure before Redmond School District voters, including some in Jefferson County, has held onto a narrow but growing margin of success since Election Night.

"Through this entire campaign, we've had such great support and a rally from our community, and we just want to thank the community for supporting the bond and going out there, voting," said school district Public Information Officer Logan McGinnis said Thursday.

What was cautious optimism at first has now grown as updated election results show the $97.7 million school bond still passing.

As Jefferson County votes were released Wednesday evening, a majority of their voters on the measure were not in favor of the measure. But the 893 yes votes gave it the boost it needed to gain more momentum.

Superintendent Charan Cline said Thursday, "The No. 1 priority projects are Redmond High. Their hydronic heating system is failing on us on a rapid basis. We'll have to continue to patch it back together for a while, until we can plan a full replacement."

It's still a long road for district officials, if the bond measure holds onto its lead. Cline says they will need the community's help.

"Our first step is to really create a bond oversight committee," he said. "This is a group of citizens who come and join us to review all of our building plans, and make sure that we stay on the bond language that we said we would."

Planning could take months to begin the full renovation of Redmond High, where most of the bond funding is going. Over the past summer, major renovations were done to the school's HVAC system, funded by the voter-passed Phase 1 bond measure. But serious issues remain, with leaks getting worse.

The new measure would replace Redmond High's 50-year-old heating system, which officials say is at risk of totally failing within five years.

As of Thursday, the $97.7 million measure to fund major Redmond High repairs and other improvements was passing by 1,360 votes, 52-48%. With a significant number of uncounted ballots, Cline had said Wednesday he was cautiously optimistic of passage.

Students will see learning environment changes when renovations begin. The district says classroom pods will be added to a practice field while the school building is closed. The bond will also cover the cost of that.