Bend voters will be faced with a May 16 ballot initiative to sell $268.3 million in bonds to finance new schools in the Bend-La Pine School District. That issue and plans to expand the Senior Center will headline the agenda at BANA’s March meeting.
Bend voters will be faced with a May 16 ballot initiative to sell $268.3 million in bonds to finance new schools in the Bend-La Pine School District. That issue and plans to expand the Senior Center will headline the agenda at BANA’s March meeting.
With school district enrollment growing by the thousands over the past 15 years, the School District administration believes it is time to build a new high school. That means asking the voters to approve bonds to fund school improvements, including $129 million for a new high school. Superintendent Shay Mikalson is making the rounds of community organizations. He will speak at the March 13 meeting to be held at Looking Glass Café, 150 NE River Mall Road in the Shopko Mall. Based upon predictions by Portland State’s Population Research Center, Bend will see another 3,000 students enrolling in the next 10 years. The five high schools serving the greater Bend area are at capacity now.
Steve Jorgensen, Bend Parks and Recreation planner, will discuss plans for a bigger and better senior center. Parks & Recreation District is considering an expansion plan that would quadruple the size of the Bend Senior Center, adding a pool and recreation activities that would target not just seniors, but residents of all ages. The meeting begins at 5 p.m.