A draft facilities plan for the Portland school district suggests spending anywhere from half a billion to more than one billion dollars on buildings over the next ten years.
A committee of more than 30 people began work on the Long Range Facilities Plan after voters rejected a half-billion dollar capital bond for Portland Public Schools, last year.
The draft plan responds to three goals: that schools be safe, that they provide good learning environments, and that they’re optimally used.
One version of the plan would address the district’s worst problems as quickly as possible. Its ten-year cost is over one billion dollars.
Another option would “balance” improvements across grade schools and high schools. It would cost $883 million over ten years.
A so-called “conservative” approach would anticipate closing some schools, and phasing in improvements more slowly. It has the smallest price tag at $576 million.
There’s also a $780 million option that would assume some school closures and target seismic needs.
The school board is scheduled to discuss the plan at three meetings this month.
