By Stephen Floyd
The Gervais School District (GSD) plans to continue operating for one more year if a $28 million facilities bond on the May 21 ballot fails.
District officials said last summer, if a May bond were to fail, the district would be unable to afford critical repairs at its two remaining schools and may be forced to dissolve. Dissolution could result in portions of GSD being absorbed into the Silver Falls and Mt. Angel school districts.
The $28 million bond is a follow-up to similar facilities bonds which voters rejected by wide margins in 2022 and 2023. On March 21, GSD Superintendent Dandy Stevens told the board to prepare to discuss a possible closure strategy at its May 23 regular meeting. She said there must be a plan communicated to district staff before staff leave in June for summer break.
“It’s always prudent to prepare for the worst and hope that doesn’t happen,” said Stevens. One challenge, she said, is the possibility of mass resignations if district staff know their jobs will not last past June 2025. She suggested offering a retention bonus payable after the school year concludes.
