In the News: School building boom thunders

By Teresa Carson, The Gresham Outlook (Read full article on The Outlook's site.)
June 29, 2017

Eight new or largely remodeled schools on their way in Reynolds and Gresham-Barlow School districts.

A construction worker jabs a 90-pound jackhammer into the concrete floor in what used to be the health room of Reynolds High School. A gaggle of workers grab up the slabs of concrete weighing hundreds of pounds and sling them onto a hand truck for removal.

This labor is a tiny part of the $416.2 million school building boom fueled by bonds voters approved for the Reynolds and Gresham-Barlow School Districts. More than 8,000 kids attend the eight local schools that will be completely replaced or substantially remodeled, and two dozen more will be improved. Voters gave a thumbs up to a $125 million bond for Reynolds School District in May 2015 and a $291.2 million bond for the Gresham-Barlow School District in November 2016.

"Seeing new construction occurring whether business, residential or school buildings definitely boosts positive emotional feelings about an area. It is a visible sign of success and progress," said Lynn Snodgrass, CEO of the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce.

It's also not bad for the local economy. Both districts have reached out to the community and local contractors urging them to bid on work or get jobs related to the construction. They've also urged their contractors to buy from local suppliers.

Plus, workers who come in from other areas will fill local cash registers. They'll be buying lunch, fueling their vehicles or grabbing something from the grocery store for dinner.

"We have many great places to eat, have coffee, purchase printing, get equipment repairs, buy paint, and our gas prices are usually 3 to 5 cents cheaper than anyplace west of us," Snodgrass said.

"I told a group of 62 potential subcontractors a month ago 'That personal birthday gift you were going to buy anyway can be purchased right here. Leave some of the school-bond provided paycheck in Gresham,'" she said.

Reynolds is building

Reynolds is well underway with its building program.

The high school is a beehive of construction activity with giant earth moving machinery crawling over the site and workers in hard hats and safety vests toiling at a variety of tasks.

Reynolds High is getting a dramatic, new and safer main entrance. It is getting more science and regular classrooms and all the buildings will be connected. The cafeteria and commons will be expanded and upgraded and all student and family support services will be collected together at the front of the school for easy access.

The work at Reynolds High is expected to be completed by fall 2018, with students attending school with construction all around them.

Some students and staff will work in temporary quarters in different parts of the building as other sections are under construction. "Everyone is having to be flexible during construction. It's the nature of being in a school while it is under construction," said Robert Collins, senior project manager at DAY CPM Services.

Reynolds was originally built for 700 students but now houses 2,700. "The commons will double in size," Collins noted.

The new, light-filled entrance should be ready for students, staff and community to use in the fall.

"But, there will be finishing work that has to be done," said Kurt Schwabauer, LCG Pence Construction the superintendent of the high school project.

The Reynolds district is building three new elementary schools — Fairview, Troutdale and Wilkes. All the Reynolds schools are getting security upgrades to make the schools safer for students, staff and visitors.

At Troutdale Elementary School, demolition of the gym and some outbuildings is scheduled to begin next week to make way for the new school.

Reynolds three new elementary schools will be built on their existing sites while students are still going to school in the old buildings and the new buildings should be ready for students by the fall of 2018.

Gresham is planning

Gresham is still in the design phase for its new buildings. The $291.2 million bond will pay for major overhauls of Gresham and Barlow high schools, which will total about half of the bond. East and North Gresham elementary schools are being replaced at a cost of about $29 million each.

Hall and Hollydale Elementary schools will get additional classrooms. The rest of the funds will be used for varied projects in every school in the district including safety, security and technology upgrades. Alterations will be made to limit entry points at each school, add current emergency communications equipment and locks on classroom doors to make every school safer.

The remodel of Gresham High School hit a snag when Mayor Shane Bemis and prominent community members objected to the district tearing down the historic facade of the building constructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1940. The two sides are working on a compromise, which must also pass muster with the Gresham Design Commission.

The academic building boom and the improved school facilities are a boon for the community.

Eric Schmidt, Gresham's community development director, says "Strong schools lead to stronger communities. The recent local school bond passage signals our community's commitment to promote and maintain educational opportunities, especially in the K-12 arena, and that's certainly something that developers consider when they look at investing in Gresham."