Creswell education bond measure passes.

Byline: Karen McCowan The Register-Guard

CRESWELL - Backers of a new middle school can enjoy an extra dollop of gratitude this Thanksgiving, courtesy of Creswell School District voters.

On Wednesday, Lane County Elections Director Annette Newingham certified final Nov. 7 election results in which district residents approved 1,616 to 1,600 a $13 million bond issue to build the new school. The bond measure was floated to build a replacement for leaky, technology-challenged Creswell Middle School. Built in 1941 as a high school for 150 students, it now houses 300 in grades six through eight.

Though the 16-vote margin was a squeaker, it wasn't close enough at 50.25 percent to 49.75 percent to trigger an automatic recount. Under state law, that occurs only with margins of one-fifth of 1 percent or less. The final Creswell margin was one-half of 1 percent.

The results are a reversal of preliminary returns election night, which showed the measure failing by a 12-vote margin.

"Our Cinderella story ended with a very, very happy ending," said David Case, co-chairman of a vigorous "Let's Build" campaign that ultimately drew more than 150 volunteers. There was no organized opposition to the measure.

Creswell Middle School Principal Shirley Burrus said she and others on the office staff were so ecstatic, "we were jumping up and down" Wednesday morning upon hearing the final tally from District Finance Director Jennifer Heiss.

"School was just ready to start, so I made an announcement on the P.A. - in our little building, we could hear people in the classrooms cheering and clapping," Burrus said Wednesday afternoon. "In about 20 minutes when school is out, we're going to get the staff together and pop the cork on some sparkling cider."

An elated Superintendent Rick Stuber said Creswell district officials immediately will begin work to get the new school project under way. A meeting with the project architect is scheduled for next week.

"We want to get started with some of the nuts and bolts, such as laying the foundation for getting contractors," he said.

Plans call for a two-court gymnasium, classrooms wired for modern technology and a cafeteria large enough to serve an expected 450 students in the rapidly growing town. Construction would begin almost immediately, with completion expected during the 2007-08 school year.

The current 36,000-square-foot school would continue operating while a new 80,000-square-foot facility goes up on the same 15-acre site, Case said.

The bond also is intended to cover construction of a district storage room and a covered bus shelter. It will cost district taxpayers an estimated $1.46 in additional taxes per $1,000 of assessed valuation. That's about $292 in taxes on a home assessed at $200,000, although the rate is expected to decline each year as more assessed valuation is added to the tax base as Creswell grows.

Wednesday's final election results mark the second time in two years that a Creswell money measure has done a post-election night turnaround. A 2004 measure to form and fund a new library district also trailed narrowly in early returns before winning by 19 votes.

Stuber said the thin margin of victory is prompting him to make an extra effort to reach out to those who voted no.

"We still want to find out what the concerns are from the folks who didn't support it," he said. "We're going to do our level-headed best to assuage any concerns and spend this money in a way that's most beneficial for kids."

Stuber invited any community residents with comments or suggestions to call him at 895-6000, send him a letter (998 West A St., Creswell, OR 97426) or visit the district's Web site at www.creswell.k12.or.us to send an e-mail message.