Ongoing construction at North Salem High School on May 6, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Major construction projects have recently started at three Salem-Keizer schools, and crews are on track to finish expansions at four others this summer.
Though nearly every other piece of schooling has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, the $620 million Salem-Keizer renovation and expansion package approved by voters in the spring of 2018 is on schedule, district chief operations officer Mike Wolfe said this week.
At McNary and North Salem high schools, renovations have been underway since last spring.
Crews planned a construction schedule around doing interior renovations, like seismic retrofitting, when students were out of school.
Because of the pandemic, schools have been closed to students and staff since March 13, which in some cases has made construction access easier, Wolfe said.
A few extra months with no students on campus may help them complete projects more quickly, but Wolfe said the district is still planning for an on-schedule completion in August and doesn’t want to “over-promise and under-deliver.”
“Having a little extra time to deal with them is just added insurance,” he said.
Expansions of Waldo and Judson middle schools, which will add classrooms to relieve overcrowding and new cafeteria space, are also scheduled for completion in August.
Three other large projects kicked off in March and April, though scheduled groundbreaking ceremonies didn’t go forward because of restrictions on large events.
At South Salem High School, crews have already demolished the historic Leslie Middle School building adjoining the high school. The brick structure served as the home of Howard Street Charter School until a December move.
That space will be used for a new addition to the school, giving South 12 new classrooms and more space for culinary and sports medicine programs. Outside renovations will include new tennis courts and more parking spaces.
A sign reminds spectators of COVID-19 prevention measures as the demolition of old Leslie Middle School gets underway Wednesday, April 15 (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter).
South’s transformation is scheduled to be complete in September 2021. The cost, originally estimated at $66 million, has increased due to more extensive seismic work being needed and efforts to enlarge the auditorium, Wolfe said. He doesn’t yet have an updated figure because major bids are still being finalized, but said the costs will be covered by contingency funds budgeted as part of the districtwide construction package.
“South has always been our highest risk and most complex project from the beginning and it’s not letting us down,” he said.
Work has also started at Miller and Hoover elementary schools to build new additions housing more classrooms. At Hoover, four new classrooms will allow the school to get rid of portables. The cafeteria will also be expanded, and a new fitness room added, for a total project cost of $4.8 million.
Miller’s new addition will hold five classrooms and two restrooms, and the school will also receive new flooring in some areas. That project is budgeted at $4.6 million.
In total, 16 district schools are scheduled for some construction work to begin this year, though most projects are smaller interior renovations to upgrade security systems, re-roof sections of buildings or add seismic improvements.
While the closures haven’t set back construction, Wolfe said they’re also unlikely to speed up projects that were due to start in June, when school gets out for the summer.
“Not every contractor can throttle up and start earlier,” he said.
Major construction will begin in June at five other schools: the severely overcrowded McKay High School, as well as Auburn, Eyre, Hayesville and Scott elementary schools, which will all receive new additions. Those projects are scheduled to be completed in August or September 2021.
A full list of school construction projects is available on the district website.
SUPPORT SALEM REPORTER’S JOURNALISM – A monthly subscription starts at $5. Go HERE. Or contribute to keep our reporters and photographers on duty. Go HERE. Checks can be sent: Salem Reporter, 2925 River Rd S #280 Salem OR 97302. Your support matters.
Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
