Redmond School District sets two community listening sessions on fall bond, possible high school consolidation

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) - The Redmond School District has scheduled two community listening sessions in April to provide updates on the November 2024 bond planning progress and solicit feedback about the possibility of consolidating high schools from community members.

The first session is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Redmond High School. The second community session is scheduled for Monday, April 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Ridgeview High School. 

These listening sessions are one of many ways the district is looking to gather the opinions and feedback of the Redmond community. To date, the district has completed a district-wide survey of staff members to rate the importance of various facility and maintenance projects, held monthly meetings with a community bond task force to further prioritize possible bond projects, hosted informational sessions with district staff, and employed a professional organization to conduct opinion polling of likely Remond voters. 

The feedback from these sessions, along with information the district has gathered so far, will help inform progress towards completing a bond measure package, which the Superintendent will present to the Redmond School District Board of Directors this summer. 

A bond package must specifically outline the work that is promised to the community. Bond spending is then overseen by a citizen committee, to ensure the bond revenues are used only for the purposes consistent with the voter-approved bond program and are consistent with state law. The committee also reviews the bond program performance and conducts financial audits, as well as site visits throughout the process. 

In a recent letter from the chair of the 2020 General Obligation Bond Measure, it was noted that “the Redmond School District used the bond proceeds exclusively and appropriately for the construction and renovation of District properties as agreed to when the Bond measure was passed in 2020.”

Bond measures are requested from local communities to improve school district facilities, as general funding and other state grants have directed purposes that do not provide funding for more than routine maintenance of facilities.

“We are fortunate to live in a community that has continued to support healthy and safe learning environments for our students,” said Dr. Charan Cline, Redmond School District superintendent. “As we move forward, we must continue to assess the needs of our changing community, and make decisions that will foster responsible and sustainable spending for our schools.”

More information about the current bond planning progress can be found at https://redmondschools.org/2024-bond-planning/. 

Spanish translators will be available at both listening sessions.