Facilities assessment finds $39.7 million in repair needs; enrollment forecast drops 32% over decade

David McKay of HMK and Marlene Gillis of Soderstrom Architects presented the district's facilities assessment and long-range planning findings to the Brookings-Harbor School Board on Dec. 18, 2024. The consultants reported a total of about $39.7 million in identified repair needs across district buildings, covering roofing, plumbing, mechanical systems, electrical upgrades (including LED lighting), and seismic retrofitting. Individual Facility Condition Index (FCI) scores cited were Kalmiopsis Elementary 16.1%, Azalea Middle School 15.9% and Brookings-Harbor High School 18.1%, all below the 30% threshold at which replacement is typically more cost-effective than repair.

The presentation flagged several safety and adequacy concerns, including significant corrosion on the high school grandstands, recommended security upgrades such as fencing and access controls, and a recommendation to remove substandard modular buildings. Consultants also recommended expanding collaborative learning spaces at the high school, including the media center and auditorium, to address educational adequacy. Presenters advised the board to prioritize critical needs like plumbing and roofing and to engage a polling firm to assess community support for a possible bond measure that could leverage the Oregon Schools Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Grant, which matches dollar-for-dollar up to $6 million for approved general obligation bonds. The board did not take formal action at the meeting; next steps include project prioritization and community engagement.