What is a school bond and what is required for passage?
A school bond is used by school districts to fund capital improvement projects, provide instructional materials, and improve transportation needs. These measures are placed on election ballots by school boards to be considered by the voting public. School bonds require a super-majority vote of 60% to pass. 

How does a bond issue work?
Bond issues allow school districts to pay for capital improvement projects, costly repairs, and renovation over time instead of having to pay for them all at once. They also allow districts to devote most of their day-to-day operating budgets to classroom instruction instead of major repair work. When voters approve a bond issue, Oakdale obtains bids and sells bonds to the purchaser who offers the lowest interest rate. The District uses the funds to complete projects and pays back the debt over time. This process is similar to a home loan. When you purchase a home, you borrow money at a specific interest rate. You make payments on that loan, which include principal and interest, over time.

Can the funds be used in other ways like teacher salaries or operations?
No. Money from bond issues can only be used for capital expenditures such as major maintenance, repair, and renovation costs. Bond funds may not be used for operating expenses such as salaries, benefits, transportation costs, utilities and the like.

When is the 2021 bond proposal election?
The election is Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Polls will be open from 7AM to 7PM

Who can vote for the Oakdale Schools bond proposal?
Anyone who lives within our school boundary lines and is registered to vote using their current Oakdale school district address can exercise their right to vote in this bond election.

Where is my polling location? What about absentee voting?
Find detailed information here about your specific polling location, absentee voting and an example ballot.

Who will benefit from the bond proposal?
An investment in our schools and students benefits everyone! The projects on this proposal directly benefit all students and the future students who will attend Oakdale School.

How was the proposal developed?
Based on feedback from the fire marshal after the last completed project, a loop road and fire department connection are both required prior to any future building projects.

Through a series of Board of Education special meetings/work sessions last fall, these required projects plus the need to upgrade our outdoor recreation spaces were identified for the school bond proposal.

Input from board members, administrators, teachers, and students were included in the planning/design phase. They shared many innovative ideas for reimagining our play spaces!

What is included in the 2021 bond proposal?

• Reconnect the perimeter road: Specifically, there will be a continuous road for vehicular traffic running along the perimeter of the current property (against the golf course). This project is essential for emergency vehicle access, will assist with our school buses, and before/after school parent car lines. A good amount of re-grading, plus a substantial retaining wall, will be required.  $1,240,000

• Establish a single fire department connection: For safety purposes, establishing a single fire department connection outdoors is essential. Further, this is required by the fire marshal and would provide additional sprinkler lines as required.  $60,000

• Construct, equip, and furnish outdoor learning and playground recreation spaces: Previous bond issues permitted the addition of a beautiful new fine arts building, a new track/football field, new tennis courts, and most recently, a new classroom addition. However, our outdoor recreation and play spaces are not up to the quality our community has come to expect. Our current outdoor spaces are lacking adequate activities and sufficient equipment for our students. This project will add new playground equipment and outdoor learning spaces, an amphitheater, walkways, areas with artificial turf and/or poured in place playground surfacing, shade structures, and other furnishings.  $2,400,000

• Develop a Master Plan: The last master plan created for Oakdale was in 2011. Before we consider other future projects, a new master plan is needed to help us identify both short- and long-range needs, areas of potential growth, demographic shifts, and facility needs in order to develop strategies and timelines for future projects.  $100,000

• Renovate, repair, remodel and equip school sites: As good stewards of our school, we must maintain our facilities and keep them in good shape. This part of the bond includes but is not limited to replacing outdated/damaged classroom furniture, fixtures, or equipment, technology devices, textbooks, and library books and equipment. It will also permit us to maintain our HVAC system, roofing, electrical/lighting systems, and make other renovations as needed (e.g. flooring, painting, water fountain upgrades, landscape upgrades, fencing repairs, and the like).  $700,000    

• The total cost is $4.5 million.

Where can I find ballot language?
Click here to view the bond resolution.

How would the bond impact the classroom?
In addition to repairs and renovations (improvements to HVAC systems, roof repairs, and furniture upgrades, the bond would also allow the district to purchase additional curriculum items such as textbooks, library media materials, and related instructional technology. It will also allow the district to maintain our cyclical plan to add/replace technology devices for teachers and students.

How would the bond impact my property taxes? 
Because some previous bonds have been paid off, Oakdale's current school millage rate has declined to a low 15.36. Therefore, any slight change may be seen as an increase. Our current millage rate of 15.36 is down 11.78 mills from the previous school year and it is the lowest in the last 10 years! 

These new bonds are projected to slightly increase the school millage rate to 19.56 mills. As you see in the graph above, this is still below the 10-year average of 22.03 mills. With the passage of this bond election, the school millage rate will be similar to the rate back in 2015-16. Our goal is to stabilize our millage rate over the long-term and maintain it at approximately 22 mills.

A home with an estimated market value of $300,000, the annual first year’s projected tax impact is $136.64, or just $11.39 per month.

What if I don’t have children or students in the school?
If you have ever had kids in school or were a public-school student yourself, people before you helped to fund the schools you and/or your child(ren) attended. Similarly, current Oakdale residents help pay for the school we have now and improve in the future throughout the time they live here. 

A strong public school system protects property values. Oakdale’s most recent net assessed valuation is $110,803,722. This is an increase of $2,925,177 over last year.

When was Oakdale’s last bond issues?

• June 1, 2018:  $4,735,000  Building Bonds

• July 1, 2019:      $600,000  Transportation Equipment Bonds

How will people in our community who don’t have students in school benefit from this bond issue?

• Community Use: Many community patrons use our tennis courts, football field, or the track for fitness and exercise after school hours and on weekends and breaks… and sometimes bring grandkids up to play on one of our many playgrounds. The reimagined play space will provide more opportunities for exercise and play, including outdoor gathering spaces, shaded seating areas, sports courts, and an amphitheater.

• Property Values: Great schools increase property values and safe schools help ensure safe neighborhoods. High-quality schools are one of the key components people look for when moving into a new community, and studies have confirmed the link between strong school districts and strong communities. A strong public school system protects property values, provides a qualified workforce, lowers crime rates, and creates a better sense of community. Oakdale’s most recent net assessed valuation is $110,804,722. This is an increase of $2,925,177 over last year.

What would happen if the bond issue does not pass?
Many of the items identified in the bond ballot are critical. Without the bond funding, the District would need to allocate general operating funds to address the most critical issues. Some of the items have large costs associated with them, so this would have a significant impact on our general operations budget (the part that normally pays for classroom instruction, teachers, staff, and supplies). Some maintenance and repair work would have to be deferred, and most school renovation projects would be delayed.

What if my question was not addressed in this FAQ?
District residents can email our superintendent Dr. Joe Pierce, to submit any additional questions.