Voters made the right choice on school referendum

Voters in the Medford school district made the right call on Tuesday as they approved a $22.6 million referendum to address maintenance concerns and improve tech education spaces and science classrooms at the high school.

Voters approved the measure by a 52% to 48% margin. While proponents may have preferred a larger margin, considering the lopsided losses in past attempts, this represents a huge step forward for the district and the ongoing conversation and compromise that is needed in order to move the community forward.

This week’s referendum win did not happen by chance or accident. It was earned through hard work and a process that built on respecting different points of view and sought middle ground.

A year ago, city of Medford resident Dave Koester stood on the stage of the Red/White Theater at Medford Area Senior High School and addressed a crowd of area residents about school building needs across the district.

Koester, like many lifelong residents of Medford, has a great deal of pride in the Medford schools and their facilities. At that meeting and others that followed, Koester voiced concerns over what he had seen while spending time in each building.

He spoke of high school science classrooms that are decades out date and crowded with supplies due to lack of storage space. He spoke of the need for additional tech ed space to teach those going into the trades, the safety of students passing between buildings and accessibility at the high school. He spoke of reeking bathrooms and aging boilers and rusted out door frames.

He called on school officials who raised concern that the state funding formula leaves little option but to go to voters for long-term maintenance needs.

Putting the information out there, Koester listened, inviting questions and feedback. He actively sought out the input of those who had been vocally opposed to previous referendums.

Those conversations continued. Last spring Koester came to the school board and asked them to consider going to voters for a referendum. It is noteworthy and commendable, that among the first things the district did was to not simply take Koester and school staff’s word on what was needed, but to take the time to survey district residents to find out what, if anything, they would support.

Board members were open in their deliberations, shelving ideas and projects that, while needed and had merit, were of lower priority and which risked being proverbial poison pills driving away support.

Through compromise, consideration and a conservative approach, board members put forward a plan that focused on fundamentals rather than any whistles and bells.

For their part, voters listened and responded and showed their support where it mattered most - the ballot box.