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Board to hear school repair plan Rogue River panel lists ideas Tuesday By VICKI GUARINO ROGUE RIVER -- A community group is ready to present new plans to repair old school buildings. The committee, appointed by the Rogue River School Board, will present its proposal Tuesday for fixing leaking roofs, improving ventilation, and making other repairs and improvements. The special board meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the high school library. School board Chairman Rich Gerstmar said Friday that he's looking for "a glimmer of hope" that the community will be able to finance long-needed repairs. Twice in the past three years, Rogue River voters have rejected bond measures to pay for the construction. "We're going to hear what the committee wants the board to do; what they feel the community is willing to pay for,"Gerstmar said. A bond measure may go back to voters in November. The board could agree on Tuesday to put a measure on the ballot, or take up the issue again next month. Gerstmar said the board will have to decide before the end of April if members want to see a measure on the November ballot. Because of the continuing building needs and the cost of bond elections -- roughly $3,000 -- the board is most interested in finding a bond plan the community can accept, Gerstmar said. Rogue River isn't alone in the effort. Committees and school officials in Phoenix-Talent, Central Point and Eagle Point school districts have been conducting similar studies. In Phoenix-Talent, a citizens' committee has recommended a $16.2 million bond measure on the November ballot for a wide-ranging plan of expansion, renovation and improvement. The district would add classrooms, improve safety and make numerous repairs. In Central Point, a team is planning a half-day meeting Tuesday to examine building needs -- part of a months-long study. Like Rogue River, Central Point also experienced two funding defeats at the polls. In Eagle Point, a board-appointed committee has recommended a $33 million plan of renovation and expansion, including construction of an elementary school and three middle schools. In Rogue River, building needs during the past several years have been too costly to fund with general operating funds. Problems essentially are the same as they were in 1997, when voters first rejected a $15.5 million renovation plan. The board subsequently scaled back the proposal to $12.8 million, but voters rejected that plan in 1998. The proposals would have paid for classrooms, a gym, library and roofs across the district. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA