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School site wins boundary approval
By Jim Cornelius

The proposed new Sisters High School moved a step closer to reality on Thursday, January 17, as the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners gave the nod to bringing the school land inside the Sisters Urban Growth Boundary.

Voters last year approved a $20.5 million bond to build a new high school on 98 acres of land west of Sisters and to remodel the current high school for use as a middle school.

The school district still has a major hurdle to clear, when voters in the City of Sisters cast their ballots in March on whether to annex the land (see sidebar).

Anti-annexation activist Mel Bryan and Sisters-area resident Jim Mackey submitted testimony against allowing the school land into the UGB, saying that population statistics in the school district over the past three years do not justify building a new high school.

Commissioner Tom DeWolf noted that the opponents' arguments were exceptionally "complete (and) well thought out."

However, he noted, "I find it unfortunate that they limited themselves to three years of history to support their argument and I find that the applicant's position is more sound based on their reliance on 10 years' history."

The opponents' testimony noted that the district enrollment grew by seven students per year on average from September 1998 to September 2001. During that period, according to Bryan and Mackey's analysis, high school enrollment (including alternative school students who are educated off campus) grew by 28 students. Middle school enrollment grew by 35 students.

They argued that declining growth in elementary school enrollment (-35 students) and moderate growth in high school and middle school enrollment don't support plans for a new high school.

The school district countered with population data covering 10 years.

According to the school district, enrollment has steadily increased through the decade, and added "approximately 333 new students over the past 10 years."

The district also noted that home-schoolers and students from Camp Sherman also feed into the middle and high schools.

The district argued that population figures justify the new school even at the same rate of growth. That rate is likely to increase with immigration into Deschutes County and increased residential density in the City of Sisters allowed by the sewer system, the district argued.

DeWolf put some weight on the potential for residential growth in the City of Sisters, noting that "I believe Bryan and Mackey do not recognize the impact on growth that the new sewer system will have."

The commissioners' decision clears the way for the annexation request that will go to voters in the March 12 election.

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