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Voters in the Portland Public Schools (PPS) district in Oregon have approved a $1.8 billion bond referendum to finance the construction of new schools, updated instructional materials and essential repairs to facilities.
The district will spend $974 million on the most impactful projects – finishing a high school and building two others. PPS will either renovate or replace the Cleveland and Ida B. Wells high schools, spending $442 million and $432 million respectively to fund the work. Construction on Jefferson High School is in progress, with an additional $100 million approved through the bond to finish the project.
PPS will invest $366 million to make repairs and updates to several elementary and middle schools across the district. These facilities are outdated and show major signs of aging and disrepair. Plans include creating a $100 million reserve fund to replace systems – including HVACs – and emergency and unexpected projects. Seismic improvements for between eight and 10 schools will also be priorities.
The district will redirect any remaining funds to update or replace school roofs and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Additional work will update fire alarm and sprinkler systems, improve safety and security systems, replace elevators, upgrade sites, enhance exterior enclosures and other miscellaneous building repairs.
The bond includes another $321 million to improve the district’s education materials, technology, physical education and extracurricular activities. From that amount, $176 million will support updated technology, starting with replacing or providing student tablets and laptops and updating overall campus technology. PPS will invest $79 million to upgrade multiple athletic facilities and create athletic hub facilities at two campuses.
Approximately $56 million will allow the district to make critical upgrades to the district’s curriculum. This includes procuring and distributing comprehensive, culturally relevant and modern textbooks and teaching materials. $10 million will go toward improving physical education, starting with updating relevant spaces as well as the high school performing arts and theater facilities.
The remaining $166.1 million will support administration and contingency efforts.
Image by Peter Kramer from Pixabay
