91视频

Portland Public Schools now has money to repair many of its facilities.

Multnomah County voters this week passed a historic, $482 million construction bond measure, which will lead to three high schools 鈥� Franklin, Grant and Roosevelt 鈥� being renovated and one K-8 school 鈥� Faubion 鈥� being replaced over an eight-year-period. The bond also will provide money for smaller repair projects at multiple PPS schools.

The bond measure was approved about a year and half after voters rejected a $548 million measure and after a PPS advisory committee of school officials, parents, architects and students held many meetings.

鈥淚 think we’re all elated at the outcome of the election,鈥� said Martin Gonzalez, co-chairman of the school board. 鈥淚t just proves the importance of gathering community input from the very beginning of the process.鈥�

PPS soon will begin concept work for the four schools named in the bond. First, however, five schools 鈥� Alameda, Bridlemile, Laurelhurst, Lewis and Wilson 鈥� will receive seismic upgrades next summer.

The work at Alameda was already scheduled, after the state awarded PPS a $1.5 million grant. The school board decided it would tackle the work at the other schools if the bond were to pass.

It is unclear, however, when construction will start at Franklin, Grant, Roosevelt and Faubion, said PPS Director of Capital Operations Jim Owens.

鈥淚’m not really in a position to say this is the high school that would start and when,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he schools are all very large undertakings, so our current thinking is that we would phase these over time.鈥�

Owens did state that he expects at least some of the projects to be far into the design phase by next spring.

At this point, the project with the clearest path is at Faubion, which will be completely torn down and replaced. Last year, Concordia University and PPS reached a development agreement to turn Faubion into an education facility that could be used by both elementary and college students. Concordia has pledged to add between $7.5 million and $15 million to the $28 million in bond money for the work, Owens said.

The high schools, which were built in the early 20th century, will require work that costs more. Facades, classrooms and electrical systems will be modernized.

鈥淲e’re retaining portions that contribute to historic significance,鈥� Owens said. 鈥淭he modernization addresses both the building systems side and the modern learning environment at the same time.鈥�

Previously, the bond money was going to go to replacements of two high schools and two elementary schools (in addition to Faubion). However, PPS removed the elementary schools to make room for a third high school.

Substantial time will be devoted to revamps of classrooms so that they tie together with modern teaching methods and learning environments, Owens said. He could not give any details, but other schools, such as Parkrose Middle School, have recently begun creating classroom 鈥減ods鈥� to inspire collaboration among teachers and students.

Owens did say that all new facilities will be designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.

鈥淭he high schools have certain similarities 鈥� but we would customize the designs at each of the high schools,鈥� he added.

Construction contracts have been awarded for projects that will take place next summer. Requests for proposals for the rest of the work could be issued as soon as next month, Gonzalez said.

Because the scope is so large, Gonzalez believes the local construction industry could benefit significantly.

鈥淢y expectation is that it’s going to bring some jobs to the local economy and provide some opportunities for local businesses to in essence put back into the community,鈥� he said.

It also could help minority- and women-owned contractors. In July, PPS approved an equity policy that created an 鈥渁spirational goal鈥� for 18 percent of all school district projects, including new schools, to be completed by MWESB businesses.

The policy is the first of its kind for a school district on the West Coast, Gonzalez said. It was put in place after PPS admitted that on average only 5 percent of individual projects were completed by MWESB firms. Now, a large portion of the work tied to the school bond could be awarded to those firms.

But, as Owens reiterated, it’s a long process to reach that point.

鈥淲e think of it in terms of a project life cycle, so it starts with planning and master planning and then goes through design, bidding and finally construction,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e don’t have (any details) that we would really share at this point.鈥�