Voters in the Tigard-Tualatin School District have approved a sweeping $421.3 million bond measure that will fund major school facility upgrades, a new middle school building, and system-wide infrastructure improvements. The bond passed narrowly, with 52% of voters in favor, after updated ballot counts from Washington County flipped initial returns that showed the measure trailing.

The new bond will bring transformative changes to the 11,000-student district, including the complete replacement of Fowler Middle School, which currently serves 738 students. Built in the 1970s, the school suffers from aging infrastructure, including outdated plumbing, heating and ventilation systems, and poor accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Many classrooms also lack windows and natural light.

The district plans to use the bond funds to rebuild Fowler Middle School and remodel four elementary schools. Additional improvements will include roofing and flooring upgrades, modernized electrical and HVAC systems, and enhanced fire alarm and safety infrastructure across numerous school facilities.

“Fowler has dated plumbing and ventilation systems as well as incomplete access for people with disabilities,” district officials noted. “The building also has several classrooms that lack daylight.”

The approval of the bond also qualifies the district for an additional $8.2 million in state funding through Oregon’s School Capital Improvement Matching Program. While the state typically leaves construction and maintenance costs to local school districts, it offers matching grants to those that pass capital bonds, providing a financial boost to ambitious projects like Tigard-Tualatin’s.

In November 2023, voters in the district also demonstrated their support for public education by renewing a $67 million operating levy, which helps fund roughly 100 teacher positions over the next five years. This latest bond approval continues that momentum and builds on the success of a previous $291.3 million construction bond passed in 2016.

With this new bond, homeowners in the district will pay an additional $0.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That means the average property owner will see a $300 annual increase in taxes, bringing the total to approximately $825 per year, as the district continues to repay its 2016 bond. The increased rate is set to remain in place for 10 years before potentially dropping.

Despite the tax increase, the measure faced no organized opposition. It received strong endorsements from the Tigard-Tualatin School Board, local elected leaders—including both city mayors—and the Tigard-Tualatin teachers’ union. Every member of the Tigard City Council supported the bond, and advocates raised about $55,000 in campaign funds to help push it across the finish line.

District officials said the funding will help ensure school buildings remain safe, up-to-date, and conducive to modern teaching and learning. With voter approval secured, construction and renovation work is expected to begin soon, prioritizing the long-term health of school infrastructure and the needs of students and teachers alike.

Originally reported by Eddy Binford - Ross in Oregon Live.