BEND, OR -- The Bend-La Pine School Board is considering asking voters to approve another bond measure this spring. Staff is recommended a nearly $269 million bond to fund construction of two schools and renovations at other district buildings. 

School Board member Andy High says the district is growing more quickly than expected. He tells KBND News, "Basically, this year alone, our average elementary school is about 550; we added a whole new elementary school just in new students - they weren't all elementary kids but you can see, to get perspective, the type of growth we're seeing in young people." The district expected 350 new students this year, but got 550. 

High says the bond may be necessary to keep up with the pace of growth, "[The bond] would involve one new high school. If the voters passed it in May, if we decide to go that route, it would be another school similar to Bend High in size. And, what staff told us with that high school is, the day we open it in 2021, if everything were to pass, it would be about 1400 students already, at that time."