Document text
Skill center school cost now put at $70 million By Damian Mann Forging ahead with a major restructuring of local education, the Medford School District has estimated it could cost homeowners $70 million � about $143 in taxes each year � to build a skill center and new middle school. The centerpiece of the restructuring effort would be the technical education program at the 1,000-student skill center campus, which the district projects will cost about $40 million. A 1,200-student middle school could cost an estimated $25 to $30 million. The two campuses would be constructed by fall 2004 if voters approve a bond measure in November 2002. Also planned are $1 million in upgrades at each of the two high schools. Superintendent Steve Wisely said the impact to property owners would be 95 cents for each $1,000 of assessed valuation. On a $150,000 house, that would amount to $143 annually to pay for the entire $70 million project. "My goal is to keep this total package under a dollar (for each $1,000 in valuation)." Wisely, who believes this is one of the largest centers of its kind in Oregon, said he will also be searching for state and federal funds that could be used to offset some of the costs. The regional school is part of a major restructuring of local education, in which elementary grades would be one through five and middle school would be grades six through eight. This change would help schools better gear their curricula for mandatory state testing in grades three, five, eight and 10 and would help offset anticipated enrollment increases at some schools. Essentially, the skill center would give the district the capacity of a third high school, although students would be bused to either north or south Medford high schools for core courses such as mathematics or English. "Their home schools will still be at the high schools," Wisely said. Students who might otherwise have dropped out of regular high school will still be required to take the appropriate classes to earn a diploma. The center, which would also coordinate its classes for programs at Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University, would offer courses such as automotive, drafting, metals, woods, accounting, photography and finance. A team of architects has been hired to prepare schematics for the center and district officials are currently looking at two potential sites in the Medford area. Although Wisely would like to have the middle school and skill center at different locations, the district also has the potential of using a 42-acre parcel it owns at South Columbus Avenue and Cunningham Street in southwest Medford. Portland-based LSW Architecture, which designed a similar complex in Vancouver, Wash., and the Medford firm of Doug Skelton will work together on the plans. Before any plans are drawn, school officials will have to decide what programs will be offered at the school, which is also expected to help attendance and dropout levels at the high schools and to prevent overcrowding. "The school will be designed around the type of programs it will offer," said Skelton, who is on the 30-member Skill Center Advisory Committee. Skelton said the site will have to be in an area that is accessible to north and south Medford high schools. The advisory committee will make a trip to Vancouver, Wash., in February to see another 350-student skill center designed by LSW Architecture. This school has already undergone major additions because of demand for its services. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.