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Board accepts $25,000 TAP grant to fund seismic study for West Gresham Elementary
Summary
The board voted to accept a $25,000 technical-assistance (TAP) grant from the Oregon Department of Education to fund an architectural seismic assessment of West Gresham Elementary, a step toward a potential multi‑million‑dollar retrofit.
GRESHAM — The Gresham-Barlow School Board voted April 2 to accept a $25,000 Technical Assistance Program (TAP) grant from the Oregon Department of Education to fund a seismic assessment of West Gresham Elementary School.
Facilities director Dennis Clegg told the board the TAP award will pay a local architecture firm to evaluate the age and structural condition of the building and develop an application for a potential seismic retrofit grant. "We are awarded $25,000 in funding to work with a local architect firm to prepare an evaluation of the building and develop an application that will be submitted for a seismic, refit grant, which could be, in the up to the amount of ... $2,500,000," Clegg said.
Questions and vote Board members asked whether the TAP award requires a local match and whether the $25,000 is sufficient for an architect to complete the evaluation. Clegg said the TAP award does not require a match and that, in his experience, $25,000 is generally adequate to produce the evaluation architects typically prepare before a larger seismic grant application. He also said prior studies and materials from past bond work can be provided to the firm as background.
The motion to accept the TAP seismic assessment grant for West Gresham Elementary in the amount of $25,000 was moved by Director Blake Peterson, seconded by Director Sean Farrins, and approved by the board.
Why it matters: If an architect's assessment supports an application and the district wins the next-stage grant, the project could fund seismic improvements and related structural and roof work at West Gresham. Staff said features tied to seismic retrofit work can include accessibility improvements if those items can be tied to structural work in the grant application.
Ending note No additional district match was required for acceptance of the TAP award. The acceptance authorizes district staff to proceed with the assessment and to return to the board later with contract work and any additional funding requests required for the retrofit stage.
