When West Linn-Wilsonville students return to school in September, they'll find repaved tracks, refreshed classrooms, and new fire alarm systems.

They may also find smaller class sizes, thanks to a less obvious piece of the district's $190 million bond: curriculum funding that frees up general fund dollars for additional teachers.

Superintendent Kathy Ludwig detailed the strategy in an Aug. 1 commentary published in the Lake Oswego Review. By using bond money to cover capital curriculum purchases like textbooks and educational materials, the district can redirect general fund money toward hiring teaching positions it otherwise couldn't afford.

Ludwig wrote that the approach both lowers class sizes and improves the quality of education students receive.

The district's general fund is under severe pressure. Since the 2024-25 school year, West Linn-Wilsonville has cut more than $20 million from its operating budget, driven by declining enrollment, rising insurance costs, inflation, and reduced state and federal funding. The district planned $9.5 million in additional cuts for the 2026-27 school year, including roughly $1.5 million saved by closing Bolton and Stafford primary schools in June.

Board member Maegan Vidal put the enrollment outlook bluntly at the June 15 budget meeting: "I don't really see a surge of children being born in the next five years that would positively impact enrollment."

The board adopted a $325 million budget for 2026-27 against that backdrop.

Construction already underway

Voters approved the $190 million bond in November 2025. Physical work began this summer with track and turf replacement at West Linn High School and Wilsonville High School, plus turf replacement at Rosemont Ridge Middle School.

Additional July and August projects include fire alarm system replacements, classroom and flooring refreshes, technology upgrades, and new access-control systems at multiple schools.

The district also secured a $6.12 million Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching Grant for construction upgrades at Inza R. Wood Middle School in Wilsonville.

Oversight and updates

A seven-member Bond Oversight Committee reviews progress and checks compliance with voter-approved projects. An annual audit of bond finances is conducted under Oregon state requirements.

Families can sign up for monthly bond updates through the district's bond communications portal or the WLWV Capital Bond News group on ParentSquare.