Safety and Facility Upgrades for Grants Pass School District 7

The Grants Pass School District 7 Board of Directors has approved a debt restructuring plan that aims to address safety and facility needs across the district. The $12 million generated from the restructuring will be used to make necessary upgrades across the district, with a focus on improving the safety and functionality of school buildings.

This year, the Facilities Committee has been reviewing all of the district facilities to identify areas in need of improvement. The committee found there are approximately $40 million worth of upgrades that need to be completed to maintain our current schools. The restructuring plan will allow $12 million to be available to the district this year, which will be used to address pressing needs such as roof repairs and upgrades, door upgrades, and fencing at several schools.

Our district understands that the $12 million will only address some of the needs, and more work is required to ensure that our schools remain safe and welcoming spaces for all our students. As such, the district is looking to create a bond committee to go out for a bond in 2025 to secure an $8 million matching grant through the Oregon School Capital Improvement Match program. If successful, the bond campaign will raise $28 million to be used to address the remaining facility upgrade needs.

“We are committed to providing our students with the best possible education, and part of that includes ensuring that our schools are safe and well-maintained,” said Superintendent Tim Sweeney. “We know that when our facilities are in good shape, our students can focus on learning and achieving their full potential. We are excited to take this step forward and look forward to securing the matching grant to address the remaining needs."

Projects Planned for 2023-2026