A bond levy deadline prompted the Grants Pass School District Seven Board during their Tuesday meeting to schedule a special meeting in order to vote on the approved levy amount and rates.

The $17.5 million five year levy has three options for levy rates. The first option would tax $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed property value followed by $1.37 in years two, four and five and $1.36 in year three. Option two would tax $1.00 in the first two years followed by $1.48 in the last three years. The third option would tax $1.29 for all years except year four at $1.30. The bond levy would be used to improve school infrastructure as well as provide technological upgrades to use as teaching materials.

The deadline for submission of the levy is 4:00 p.m. on March 21 and the board will be holding the special meeting on Wednesday, March 20, at 10:00 a.m. to vote on its final approval.

A petition with 125 signatures from Grants Pass High School students was handed to the board in opposition to the proposed block or hybrid schedule changes to the high school. The petition cited changes such as band, choir and theater courses not being held at least four days a week, longer P.E. courses that would exceed the ideal daily exercise requirement for a teenager and the increased chance for student boredom during the hour and a half periods. G.P.H.S. Principal Ryan Thompson commended the students for their input and said administration is currently taking steps to lessen student’s stresses and worries about the schedule changes.