Building for the Future

School construction, renovation and safety enhancements from our 2022 bond program.

Construction Underway: Bend Senior High School

Links to recent news coverage of the bond project underway at Bend Senior High School:

The Bulletin: click here

Central Oregon Daily News: click here

Project overview: In November 2022 voters approved $249.7 million in general obligation bonds to improve safety and modernize aging schools and classrooms in Bend-La Pine Schools. More than half of the total bond package is allocated for the modernization of Bend Senior High School.

Following a design phase that included input from students, families, school staff and community members, the first phase of construction began in 2024. Two additional phases will follow in 2026-28. The new buildings will complete an update of the BSHS campus that previously included construction of a technology classroom building and the Robert D. Maxwell Center, which includes classrooms and a large multipurpose room.

Read the update email to BSH families sent on August 14, 2024: English Spanish

Phase 1: Demolition of I Hall, D Hall and most of C Hall, and removal of baseball field (summer 2024). Starting in September 2024, construction of a three-story classroom building (B Wing), front entrance, main office and counseling center, commons, outdoor courtyard. Timeline: June 2024-August 2026

Project highlights:

• New construction of 155,000 square feet
• Classroom building will house 90 percent of classrooms on campus
• Commons design will pay tribute to the BSHS history and its alumni
• Baseball teams will use Vince Genna Stadium during 2025, 2026 seasons

Image of overall building site and phasing

Image of Phase 1 - 3D overall view

Phase 2: Demolition of athletic facilities. Construction of two gymnasiums, athletic facilities and offices; classrooms; school-based health center; varsity baseball field at SE 15th Street athletic complex. Timeline: June 2026-August 2028

Phase 3: Partial demolition of existing structure; combination of new construction and renovation, including auditorium/stage, new performing arts classrooms, updates to central kitchen serving all district schools. Timeline: June 2026-August 2028

Project Team:

• Chris Reese, Principal, Bend Senior High School
• Mike Condon, Facilities Construction Project Manager, Bend-La Pine Schools
• Renée Alexander, Principal, BBT Architects
• Bob Barker, Project Manager, Kirby Nagelhout Construction Co.

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Other Projects

Fire Alarm Systems

New fire alarm systems are being installed in 18 schools and the Education Center in 2024 and 2025.

Completed: Three Rivers Elementary/Middle School, Buckingham Elementary School, Ponderosa Elementary School, Westside Village Magnet at Kingston, Ensworth Elementary School, W.E. Miller Elementary School, La Pine High School, La Pine Middle School, La Pine Elementary School, Bear Creek Elementary School, High Desert Middle School, Mountain View High School, Education Center

Summer 2025: High Lakes Elementary School, Lava Ridge Elementary School, Pine Ridge Elementary School, Sky View Middle School, Summit High School. Projects will be out for bid in January and February, 2025.

Classroom Door Locks

New door locks are being installed for learning spaces district-wide. This will improve school safety with up-to-date, easy-to-use classroom door locks for an estimated 3,200 doorways.

Completed: Bear Creek Elementary School, Pilot Butte Middle School, Three Rivers Elementary/Middle School, La Pine High School, La Pine Middle School, La Pine Elementary School, Rosland Elementary School, Cascade Middle School, Mountain View High School, Ponderosa Elementary School.

Fall/Winter 2024: Buckingham Elementary School, Elk Meadow Elementary School, Ensworth Elementary School, Juniper Elementary School, R.E. Jewell Elementary School, Silver Rail Elementary School, High Desert Middle School, Summit High School, Bend Tech Academy.

Spring/Summer 2025: High Lakes Elementary School, Highland Magnet at Kenwood, Westside Village Magnet at Kingston, Lava Ridge Elementary School, Pine Ridge Elementary School, Amity Creek Magnet at Thompson, W.E. Miller Elementary School, Pacific Crest Middle School, Sky View Middle School.

Other schools: Bend Senior High School will get the new door locks as part of the 4-year school modernization project. North Star Elementary and Caldera High School were built using these new locks. We lease space for Realms Middle/High School and will upgrade those door locks without using bond funds.

Details: We have thousands of classroom doors in more than 30 buildings. A lot of these locks are older and not suited to our current safety practices. Most doors can only be locked using a key, and many of these lock from the hallway side of the door, meaning one needs to open the door, use a key to lock it, and close the door again. That’s cumbersome and time-consuming in an emergency. Our new door locks are fast and easy to use: Just turn the switch from inside the classroom. No need to find a key or open the door. And once locked, it’s easy to see it’s locked from across the room. Also, if someone exits the room, the door remains locked when closed again. Additionally, 70 percent of classroom doors cannot accommodate the new lock hardware and will be replaced.That’s an estimated 2,000 doors. For some of those we need to widen the door frame first, requiring extra work.

La Pine Middle School Roof Replacement

Completed Summer 2024: The entire roof was replaced. Contractor was Northwest Quality Roofing LLC of Bend.

Education Center updates

Completed in 2024: Seismic retrofit and roof repairs, installation of dry wells in front of building, new elevator.

Paving and Concrete Work - Completed Summer 2024

Highland Magnet School at Kenwood, Lava Ridge Elementary School, R.E. Jewell Elementary School.

(Photo: Highland Magnet School at Kenwood)

Accessibility Updates - Completed Summer 2024

La Pine High School/La Pine Middle School: Added accessible parking spaces, ramp and path from parking lot to athletic facilities, path around bleachers.

(Photo: La Pine High School track, bleachers, and baseball field)

Air Circulation Fans in Gyms, Cafeterias - Nearing completion (summer 2024)

High Lakes Elementary School, Pine Ridge Elementary School, North Star Elementary School.

2025 Projects

Buckingham Elementary School

Spring-Summer 2025: Start of construction for a new kitchen, cafeteria/multi-use space. (School currently uses its gymnasium for meal service.)

Bear Creek Elementary School

Summer 2025: Life Skills classroom shower installation.

Sky View Middle School Roof Replacement

Summer 2025

2026 Projects

Sky View Middle School Gym Addition

Summer 2026

La Pine Transportation FacilityRemodel and Addition

Summer 2026

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Procurement and Bid Opportunities

Visit our contracting page to find procurement and bid opportunities for smaller projects in the district. CLICK HERE

This includes bid opportunities for fire alarm upgrades, Buckingham Elementary School project, and Sky View Middle School reroof project.

The Facilities Development Department also is seeking architectural services for the Sky View Middle School Gym Addition and the La Pine Transportation Remodel and Addition through an Request for Proposals. The programming, design and permit will be in progress during 2025 and the construction will start in 2026. CLICK HERE for the advertisement for the Sky View Gym Addition Architectural Services.

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2022 Construction Bond Overview:

$249.7 million in general obligation bonds to improve safety and modernize aging schools and classrooms in Bend-La Pine Schools.

Why?

Nearly half of the district’s buildings were built prior to 1980. Some were built more than 90 years ago – the oldest was built in 1918. Though these buildings have been well maintained, many are in need of major repair and maintenance to extend their life and usefulness. In addition to maintenance and modernization, many any of these buildings will benefit from safety and security improvements to help keep students and staff safe.

What?

Safety and security improvements district-wide such as upgrading interior classroom door handles and door locks;

Delivery of safety improvements at Juniper Elementary School that include moving the main offices to a location that improves visibility and visitor management;

Replacement of Bend Senior High School’s inefficient 70-year-old classrooms on the current school property to improve safety, security, and instruction;

Delivery of about a dozen maintenance and safety projects at La Pine area schools;

Protection of the community’s investment in school buildings by making repairs and improvements district-wide including the replacement of aging roofs;

Classroom additions and modernization projects; and

Money saving energy improvements to boilers, HVAC and lighting systems.

Economic Engine

The bond measure sustains jobs in our community each year; and Bend-La Pine Schools hires local contractors to do the construction work to the greatest degree possible in order to sustain employment opportunities for Central Oregonians.

No Increase to Current Tax Rate

With approval of this bond and continued retirement of existing bonds, we anticipate the District’s overall general obligation bond tax rate will not increase. New residents moving into the community will assist in the repayment of the bonds.