Measure B would give Westmorland its 1st gymnasium

WESTMORLAND — Jackie Loper attended elementary school here in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and later his kids did, too. In all that time, there has never been a gymnasium on campus. He is hopeful that will cease to be the case in the foreseeable future because of what voters here decide Tuesday.

Measure B on the Nov. 6 ballot asks voters to approve a $10 million general obligation bond school improvement measure intended primarily to build a gymnasium and multipurpose building for the Westmorland Union Elementary School District.

Monies would also be used for security, safety and other enhancements as the school, according to the district’s fact sheet on the measure, but far and away the largest share of the money would go to the new gym complex.

“I think it’s something that’s really needed for the community,” said Loper, who is chair of the school board. “It’s something we could be proud of.”

Currently the K-8 campus, with an enrollment of about 400, offers no indoor sports due to lack of facilities. What’s more, the lack of indoor facilities severely limits or prohibits physical fitness activities on days of extreme weather conditions or poor air quality. Loper estimated as much as 20 percent of the student population suffers from asthma and added that anytime the Air Quality Index moves past green into yellow (moderate risk), those kids are stuck indoors.

“We feel that the kids of Westmorland need a gymnasium because we do not have many opportunities for healthy activities after school, weekends and during the summer months,” said Superintendent and Principal Nancy Johnson, in an email.

“The gym would allow us to have a place to play when the air quality is poor (right now, we have to stay locked inside our classrooms when the flag is red). It would give our children a place to have basketball, volleyball and summer day camps.

“It would also allow all family members to attend events such as graduation rather than limit (guests) to immediate family members only in the cafeteria/multi-purpose room.”

General obligation bonds such as those that would be issued under Measure B are typically repaid over 25 to 30 years. The loan repayment comes from a tax on all taxable property — residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial — within the district’s boundaries.

The tax rate per property owner is estimated to be $58 per $100,000 of assessed value per year. For a homeowner whose property is assessed at $100,000, that would work out to almost $58 per year, or $4.83 per month.

All bond funds must be spent locally and cannot be taken by the state. The district said an independent citizen’s oversight committee will be established to ensure bond funds are spent properly.

No bond money can be used for teacher or administrative salaries.

It’s been more than 25 years since Westmorland last passed a school bond measure. Loper said that bond is due to come off the books next summer, meaning voters are unlikely to see a significant increase in their property tax bills with the passage of Measure B.

The measure requires 66.7 percent voter approval to pass.

A community survey of registered voters indicated more than 70 percent would support a bond measure, the district reported in its fact sheet.