PPS bond update: $1.8B 2025 program in early planning; pools of consultants, groundbreakings set for Jefferson and others
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Summary
District staff told the Portland Public Schools board that program-level procurement will create consultant pools and that several modernization projects are on schedule; staff described funds available across prior bond measures and said some 2012/2017 balances may be reallocated once reconciled.
Portland Public Schools (Portland SD 1J) staff gave the board a monthly bond program update on Jan. 27, saying the district is moving procurement to a program-level model and is preparing contracts for board approval in April and May.
"The key point is the board can anticipate contracts presented for approval in the months of April and May," TJ Hopkins, program director for Presidio, said during the presentation. Staff described Phase 3 procurements that will result in roughly 10 solicitations and multiple awards per solicitation to create pools of consultants who can be assigned to projects as they enter design.
Why it matters: staff said program procurement will shorten the time from project identification to getting consultants on board and is intended to speed design and construction across the 2025 bond program, which the presentation listed at $1.8 billion with roughly 96% of funds currently available.
Staff reviewed individual project schedules. Jefferson High School's design team is finishing design development, with a groundbreaking scheduled for May 29. Cleveland High School is in design development moving into construction documents; demolition of the old building will happen this summer, though a ceremonial groundbreaking likely will be timed for student participation in June or at the start of the next school year. Ida B. Wells is nearing the end of design development with construction beginning December 2026 and an anticipated school opening in August 2029.
Financial snapshot: presenters showed cumulative bond measures across multiple cycles (2012, 2017, 2020, 2025). They cited an aggregate figure for cumulative funds and said roughly 52% of those funds remained available overall, with $551 million described as remaining to program from the 2020 bond and roughly $400,000 still outstanding on the 2012 bond that staff expect to reallocate to accessibility and seismic work once reconciling is complete.
Procurement and local hiring: staff and directors discussed the district's plan to recruit local and diverse contractors, including outreach events described as "Doing Business with PPS." Directors urged targeted outreach to minority- and women-owned business chambers and community groups. Staff said many procurements are qualifications-based RFPs (with pricing negotiated after notice of intent) and that the district will prioritize Oregon firms when practicable but may recruit national specialty firms where technical expertise is not available locally.
Next steps: staff said it will return with a monthly update that includes procurement response rates and committed contract timing, will present executive summaries related to Jefferson transition options to leadership in February, and will consult with bond counsel to confirm reallocation options for older bond balances.
Speakers quoted or referenced in this article appear on the record in the board presentation and Q&A.