Coquille School Board approves $14.53 million bond option in 4–1 vote

The Coquille School District 8 board voted 4–1 on Jan. 17 to set a bond amount of $14,533,419, a midrange option presented by Superintendent Wayne Gallagher that district staff said would not include a second gym and would cost taxpayers about $0.98 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The board chair, Melinda Millet, called the motion after Superintendent Wayne Gallagher outlined three bond options and noted the district had been offered a conditional "Awesome Grant" worth $6 million if voters approve the bond. Cliff Wheeler moved to set the bond at $14,533,419; Steve Britton seconded the motion.

Why it matters: district leaders said the bond would fund prioritized capital projects and make the district eligible for the $6 million grant. Gallagher also said the district could pursue a $2.5 million seismic grant if the bond measure passes, and that adding a second gym would require an additional roughly $7 million.

Board debate centered on feasibility and timing. Board member Heather Echavarria said the district would face challenges winning voter approval in the present environment, telling the board that "we would be hard-pressed to pass a bond with the current environment." Supporters on the board argued the middle option balanced cost and capital needs; Cliff Wheeler and Steve Britton signaled support before the roll call.

Vote and next steps: The motion passed with four yes votes (Steve Britton, Cliff Wheeler, Marsha Frost and Melinda Millet) and one no vote (Heather Echavarria). Following the vote, district staff indicated grant applications tied to the bond (including the seismic grant) would be pursued where applicable and the board set timetable items for upcoming meetings related to the bond process.

The board will proceed with the bond preparation steps described at the meeting; no final election date was recorded in the minutes. The board adjourned at 9:39 p.m.