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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 19, 2006 School-bond options would bring big changes By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Cramped classrooms and a campus a third the size of its sister high school have placed South Medford on a list of five schools that could be replaced under one option for a possible bond referendum in November. Under the option, the high school would be transformed into a middle school. "The reason we have proposed replacing South Medford is that space is limited," said Bob Hartwig, student services coordinator and head of the facilities planning committee for the Medford School District. "We can’t expand there." The committee will hold public forums this week on three options to repair and upgrade all 18 schools in the district. School maintenance has been neglected in recent years because of a lack of funds, officials said. Advertisement The forums are among 20 meetings in March and April intended to garner feedback about what the public wants in a bond package. The committee will use the comments to help craft its final recommendation to the school board for a possible referendum. The bond options range from $99.4 million to $222.4 million. The $99.4 million option includes roof repairs and replacements, flooring, windows, central heat and air-conditioning systems, seismic upgrades, indoor lock and security lighting and fencing at all 18 schools. The lowest-cost option would fund basic repairs to keep the buildings operational for at least five years, Hartwig said. A $208.7 million option calls for the same measures as the first option plus replacing North Medford and South Medford high schools. That option also would reconfigure South Medford into a third middle school. It would keep buildings in good condition for at least 10 years, committee members estimate. "The idea of having a new high school is pretty exciting," said Assistant Principal Arlene Louis. "I haven’t heard a whole lot of nostalgia. I think we know we’ve outgrown the school." The $222.4 million option includes the same items as the second option but also calls for replacing Jackson, Lone Pine and Roosevelt elementary schools. "The third option is the better use of money in the long run," Hartwig said. Committee members expect that option would keep buildings up to par for more than 15 years. The options would cost district taxpayers between 99 cents and $2.22 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The district’s property tax rate for bond debt now stands at 59 cents. Built in 1931, South Medford High sits on 21 acres at South Oakdale Avenue and is home to Spiegelberg Stadium. The campus is about one-third the size of North Medford High, which has 61 acres. "Parking (at South Medford) is an issue, especially with the stadium there," Hartwig said. The school’s classrooms are too small for current high school class sizes, he said. "In the science labs, there are so many desks and it’s so cramped that kids can’t do experiments," he said. And the roofs perpetually leak. Second-floor classrooms recently flooded after heavy rain due to leaks, Louis said. The school underwent 10 additions or renovations between 1938 and 1995. Public forums planned The following public forums will be held this week on Medford bond options for repairing or replacing schools: South Medford High School — 7 p.m. Monday in the school theater, 815 S. Oakdale Ave. Washington Elementary School — 6 p.m. Wednesday in the school library, 610 S. Peach St. McLoughlin Middle School — 7 p.m. Thursday in the group room, 320 W. 2nd St. For details on facilities forums in April, visit www.medford.k12.or.us . Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail School-bond options would bring big changes ">[email protected] . 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 Absinthe Supply Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Debt Consolidation California Casinos Generic Viagra Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada King of Spirits Advertisement s Advertisement