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Ashland High School modernization to resume By Kevin Opsahl Dec 15, 2022 04:00 PM A A After putting the project on pause, the Ashland School District voted this week to move forward with a modernization project at Ashland High School. [Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune] After waiting nine months to see if economic conditions would improve, the Ashland School Board voted Monday to move forward with its high school modernization project and put out bids for a new general contractor. The decision was unanimous after Steve Mitzel, the district’s executive director of operations, and Dave McKay, CEO and co-owner of HMK Company — the business that manages the district’s bond projects — told board members they felt good about proceeding with projects at the school, 201 S. Mountain Ave. “The ask tonight is that we proceed with the high school project and we do so with caution and with care — and with a lot of genuine discussion around priorities and the amount of money we have to spend,” Mitzel said. McKay added that one of the reasons he feels good about resuming the high school modernization project is that more contractors are becoming available. “There’s just been a lot of large, capital commercial projects underway that have drained, evaporated (the) subcontractor tradesman marketplace. A lot of those contracts are coming to end,” McKay said. “Talking to general contractors and others, they believe there is going to be a freeing up in the market that is going to help us.” In making those remarks, he mentioned Central Point School District 6, which also has a slate of projects underway or near completion funded by a bond measure that passed several years ago. However, some of those projects, including a new primary school, slowed due to struggles in the construction market. But now, with the project set to resume, Ashland High School could see a number of long-awaited upgrades, including improvements to accessibility at the Humanities and Science buildings; reconfiguring spaces that fall in line with requirements for science programs; and new technology, security and restrooms. Superintendent Samuel Bogdanove noted some Americans With Disabilities Act upgrades and improvements to the high school commons were able to be made during the pause. Immediately following Monday’s vote, School Board Chairman Victor Chang said, “We are really excited” about the continuation of the high school modernization project. He added he would be personally engaging with the high school and officials there to help the modernization project move forward. “I think what the board really needs to consider over the next month or so as we engage with our general contractor is our list of priorities and how we want to step forward — even if it’s categorically,” Chang said. Bogdanove said that during the project pause, the district terminated its contract with the general contractor, Corvallis-based Gerding Builders. “At that time in the COVID economy, costs were exploding, and there were not enough local vendors, so neither Gerding or the district were in a position to move forward,” Bogdanove said. The district has sent out a request for proposals to any general contractor interested in working on the modernization project. Bogdanove said he anticipates a decision will be made by mid-January. “I remain optimistic that by the time we are ready to move from paper plan to construction, we may see improvements in costs,” the superintendent said. While a search for a general contractor is underway, the district will focus on prioritizing things to work on regarding the high school’s modernization. “The next step would be to begin establishment of priorities — what comes first?” Mitzel told board members. Chang agreed. “The ballot language tells us so much, but I think we also can understand what we think and feel are important things to take care of at the high school,” he said. Chang was referring to the ballot measure Ashland residents approved in 2019, paving the way for a series of improvements at district facilities. Some of the projects recently were announced by the district as complete, including a new TRAILS Outdoors School campus and renovations to Ashland Middle School. Reach reporter Kevin Opsahl at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @KevJourno.