Redmond SD 2J board approves $600,000 Gene Haas Foundation grant to expand manufacturing lab

The Redmond School District 2J board approved an education underwriting agreement with the Gene Haas Foundation to expand the district’s manufacturing facilities at Redmond High.

A district presenter described the award as “a $600,000 grant that will help us to expand [the] footprint of our manufacturing area,” saying the funds would allow the district to reconfigure existing shop spaces, move the welding shop closer to manufacturing and create a larger architecture/design classroom. The presenter identified manufacturing teacher Dan Cunningham as the grant author and noted the gift comes with a naming/branding caveat tied to the donor.

The presenter described the disbursement schedule as an initial $255,000, $250,000 in a later installment and $100,000 at the end of the arrangement. Board members asked about continuity of student programs during construction and noted the project would require ventilation, power and other facility work.

Speaker 2 introduced the motion to approve the education underwriting agreement; the motion was seconded and the board recorded aye votes during a voice vote called by the board president (Speaker 1). The board approved the agreement. Board members said the naming recognition visible from the street could help attract additional donors.

The board did not specify detailed implementation dates during the meeting. Staff said project logistics, including sequencing of shop moves and plans to minimize disruption to student access, remain to be finalized.

What’s next: staff will finalize construction sequencing and implementation plans tied to the grant and return updates to the board as the project schedule and permits are determined.