Portland (Oregon) district puts $1.8 billion bond request on May ballot

The Portland (Oregon) school board has voted unanimously to place a $1.83 billion bond request on the May ballot.

The Oregonian reports that much of the money would be earmarked for refurbishing the last of the district’s two large comprehensive high schools, Cleveland and Ida B. Wells. The bonds would also pay for curriculum and technology upgrades, for deferred maintenance and for improvements to athletics facilities.

Estimated costs for modernizing Jefferson, Cleveland and Wells have at points reached between $435 million and $491 million. By contrast, Lincoln High School was completed in downtown Portland in 2022 for $245 million.

If costs for Cleveland, Wells and Jefferson can be held down, that could free up money for improvements to middle and elementary schools, district staff members have said. Those upgrades could include heating and cooling upgrades or accessibility improvements, both of which were raised as issues during the teachers strike in 2023.