Residents press St. Helens SD 502 for transparency on Gable Road/Jerry Jones property purchase and alleged budget transfers

Neighbors and community members at the Feb. 26 St. Helens School District 502 board meeting urged the district to provide more information about a recently purchased parcel—described at the meeting as the Jerry Jones/Gable Road (Johnson) property—its funding, zoning and potential effects on nearby homes.

Amanda (last name not given), who said she lives in Furlock Park, told the board the district “purchased on backside of the school” and that her neighborhood “has huge water issues.” She asked the district to notify the entire neighborhood before discussing projects and to address drainage and wetland restrictions. She said a fence bordering neighbor properties was removed and described the parcel as roughly seven acres.

Why it matters: Commenters said the parcel is in a wetland area and that development, moving dirt or diverting water could overwhelm nearby septic systems and cause property damage. They asked the district to coordinate with neighbors before proceeding.

Several commenters also alleged the district’s purchase and related budget moves reduced funds for education. One speaker said the property “was purchased for 1,250,000.00.” Another told the board the district entered escrow on May 2, publicly discussed the purchase on May 8 and that funds to purchase the property were moved into state funds Feb. 28. The speaker alleged $755,000 was taken from education accounts to buy the parcel and criticized the board for not using bond funds set aside for purchases. Another commenter said the district “transferred $720,000 around the budget to purchase a $205,000 property.” Those details were presented as claims by public commenters and were not confirmed by district staff at the meeting.

Speakers asked for more neighborhood outreach, more public transparency about the parcel’s zoning and intended use, and a district response about why certain funding sources were used. Amanda asked that any future site access or fencing work be coordinated with neighbors and suggested a drainage plan to protect trees and yards.

Ending: The board did not provide a detailed public response during the comment period; commenters requested a follow-up from the superintendent or district staff. The district’s website or future board materials were not cited in the meeting transcript as having confirmed the claims about dates, amounts or fund sources.