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Bond committee details project reallocations, pre-K expansions and busy summer construction schedule
Summary
The committee reviewed proposed budget shifts — including moving CTE closeout funds to deferred maintenance, shifting playground and field funds, and consolidating pre-K work into larger construction packages — and previewed a heavy summer construction season across district schools.
The Forest Grove School District 15 bond oversight committee reviewed several project-level budget reallocations and detailed a heavy construction schedule for the coming summer.
Staff described planned budget shifts: remaining funds from the Forest Grove High School CTE project will move into the high school's deferred maintenance budget after the CTE work closes; deferred maintenance funds originally assigned to Neil Armstrong (NAMS) building work will be shifted to support athletic field lighting and gym-floor replacement; and playground budgets will be increased using contingency funds. Staff said Dilley Elementary has about $298,000 left in its bond allocation and that its playground was not in the original bond commitments, so Dilley's remaining funds will be transferred to playground budgets.
Committee staff also said the district is consolidating pre-K budgets at Echo Shaw and Harvey Clark and will embed pre-K work into the larger seismic and deferred maintenance projects at those schools so the pre-K addition or renovation is procured and built as part of the larger contract rather than as separate small procurements.
Project updates given to the committee included Cornelius Elementary nearing closeout with remaining cash balances that will decline as the project finishes, Neil Armstrong in mid-construction with seismic work roughly 30% planned, Echo Shaw and Harvey Clark moving into preconstruction and heavy summer work, and the Forest Grove High School CTE suite completed and scheduled for a planned public opening in August.
Staff described safety and technology work slated for the summer as well: access-control upgrades and fire-alarm work at multiple schools, improvements to emergency communications and cellular coverage at the high school, and a districtwide technology rollout that includes digital whiteboards and upgraded classroom electrical infrastructure. Staff said Portland Electric was hired for district electrical work and that discussion with technology staff (Enrique and Emil) is ongoing to finalize large technology purchases.
Several projects will require external approvals and coordination. Staff noted that planned field lighting for Neil Armstrong will go through the city land-use process and invited committee members and the public to attend the city hearing. For additions and construction that will occur while school is in session, staff said construction phasing and emergency-exit plans (including fire-marshal coordination at Fern Hill) are being finalized.
Committee members asked practical questions, such as where musical instruments and storage will be located during Dilley's reconfiguration and whether scoreboards and bleachers are on the district wish list; staff said these items are tracked on a district wish list and that some items will be prioritized as contingency and schedules permit.
Why it matters: these reallocations and procurement choices affect which contractors build pre-K classrooms, how quickly projects can be completed, and how remaining bond dollars are used across the district's schools.
Staff said the district expects this to be "our busiest, craziest summer" of construction, with multiple additions, seismic upgrades and deferred maintenance projects active at once. The committee set a site meeting for May 28 at Dilley Elementary and discussed meeting dates in June to finalize schedules.
