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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend May 3, 2006 Board gets bond option proposal By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune A $189.2 million bond package a Medford School District facilities planning committee proposed Tuesday to the Medford School Board would involve replacing two schools, renovating four schools, repairing 12 campuses and closing one of the city's oldest schools. The decision whether to offer the bond package to voters in a November general election now rests with the board, which was tight-lipped about the proposal Tuesday evening. "I think the committee did a good job," said Board Chairman Larry Nicholson, holding a large binder containing the written recommendation. "We need to really sit down and dig into the information. There is too much information to comment right now." Under the proposal, South Medford High School, now at 815 S. Oakdale Ave., would be relocated to a site at Columbus and Cunningham avenues. Lone Pine Elementary School would be replaced at its existing site at 3158 Lone Pine Road. The existing South Medford High School would be reconfigured into a middle school and house the district's maintenance department and warehouse. North Medford High School, Roosevelt Elementary School and Washington Elementary School would undergo complete remodeling. Twelve other campuses in the district would receive basic repairs and upgrades, such as new roofing, flooring, windows and air-conditioning. Board members gave only a brief response to the most controversial portion of the recommendation ­­--­ to close Jackson Elementary School, one of the oldest schools in the Medford School District and one whose students are among those with the highest poverty rates in the district. Committee members recommended closing Jackson because of the poor condition of its building and its low enrollment. The school's location abutting five elementary schools with special services for low-income students would help ensure Jackson students have the same support they have now, they said. "The reason sounded logical, but I have yet to really study it," Nicholson said. Some community members have expressed concerns that closing Jackson and moving pupils to other schools would hinder Jackson students' ability to participate in after-school activities to which they can now walk. The board prohibited people from speaking about the bond proposal during the board's public comment period, asking them to return instead for a May 16 public forum or to make comments on the district's Web site. The forum will be held at 7 p.m. May 16 at a location yet to be determined. Parents from Jackson, who gathered at the meeting Tuesday, said they plan to speak at the upcoming forum. "We need Jackson," said Bryan Greager, father of two Jackson pupils. "It's the center of the community." During the one-year process of crafting its recommendation for the School Board, the committee considered three bond options ranging from $99.5 million to $222.4 million. Committee members said they used public comments to help fashion a bond package that addresses facility needs for the next 20 years. They said they trimmed some of the costs in the most expensive option primarily by removing seismic upgrades not required by law and overhauling certain schools instead of replacing them. "There were reoccurring themes at the forums: Make sure the buildings last longer than five years," said Dennis Poncia, committee member. "Save money in the long run, be cost-effective and efficient." Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy