Bend-La Pine Schools have big plans for big bond money
Bend-La Pine Schools’ record-breaking $268 million bond measure passed handily with voters Tuesday night. Now, the real work can begin.
“We’re going to advertise for architectural services, hopefully within the next few weeks, for multiple projects,” Mike Tiller, executive director of facilities for the school district, said Wednesday.
After a bidding period and planning process, the public will start seeing changes. The money will finance 159 projects, from maintenance of older buildings, including Highland Elementary, to the construction of two new schools.
“We’re experiencing a lot of growth in Bend, so the first and foremost thing we need is capacity.” Tiller said. “So, we’re building a new elementary school and a new high school.”
He said the highest-priority projects will be addressed first and construction will happen in phases.
First up, along with the new schools, will be renovations at Pilot Butte Middle School, the addition of two classrooms and a gymnasium at Marshall High School, a parking-lot reconfiguration at Sky View Middle School and cabinetry upgrades at Lava Ridge Elementary.
“We’re going to be able to build the space we need so that the kids can have the education they deserve. That’s what our buildings are for, and that’s what we’re about.”
Right now, Tiller is working to get the proper documents together, so construction on the first phase can begin in the spring or summer of 2018. The district is aiming to complete all of the projects by 2021.
