Tune in as we delve into the awe-inspiring advancements in enriching our school facilities via our comprehensive three-phase capital bond improvement program. Our executive director of project management offers expert insights into the building plans and developments, and we hear firsthand from a student who contributed to the design team for his new elementary school. Additionally, we share how our families and residents can explore the latest assets in our community, all made achievable through the steadfast support of our voters dedicated to crafting a bright future for our students.
LOSD Capital Bond Improvement Program
Dr. Jennifer Schiele, Superintendent, LOSD
Mary Kay Larson, Executive Director of Communications, LOSD
Tony Vandenberg, Executive Director of Project Management, LOSD
Cameron Sosebee, student, River Grove Elementary School
Welcome to Learning in Lake Oswego, a podcast providing educational insights for an engaged community. Lake Oswego School District Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Schiele will discuss what's important to our learning community. She'll be joined by experts examining various topics, answering important questions, and sharing upcoming events and activities you won't want to miss.
And now, it's your host executive director of communications, Mary Kay Larson.
welcome to Learning in Lake Oswego, where we delve into the inner workings of our district. I'm Mary Kay Larson, your host, here with Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scheele. Also with us today is Executive Director of Project Management, Mary Kay Larson. Tony Vandenberg. We're going to be discussing one of my favorite topics, our bond program.
This is something that impacts all of our students, our families, and our residents. And if you've ever been to a meeting where Tony is presenting, you can see it is capturing the imagination and the intention of everyone in Lake Oswego. We'll talk with Tony, the building expert. As well as a student, Cameron Sosebee, who is part of the design team of his very own school.
But first, let's hear from Jen. Hello, listeners. It's truly exciting to share the strides we've been making enhancing our school facilities. Our capital bond program unfolding in Three phases reflects our commitment to creating educational environments that inspire the best practices in teaching and learning.
Each project emphasizes sustainability and community enhancement, shaping our schools into spaces that exceed expectations. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of our community for the unwavering support, shaping our schools. A promising future for our students. Leading our district's Capital Bond Improvement Program is Tony Vandenberg.
Tony, please share your journey building schools and specifically within our district.
Thank you, Dr. Jennifer Schiele. Well, I have been building for a very long time and specifically my profession has been based around building educational facilities, mostly. I've built schools across the country, across the state of Oregon, and I've landed here in Lake Oswego and I've been participating here in the district since 2018 on our capital improvement programs.
Lake Ridge Middle School was the first school we rebuilt in the three phase bond program. What makes that school special, like winning all the state and national awards, and then how has that work at Lake Ridge Middle influenced our other school projects?
Yes, Lake Ridge Middle School was a, was a very successful school.
The first school, new school here in the district for With the new middle school, we needed to look at how education has changed in the district. That was kind of first and foremost. So we created what we call educational specifications, detailing all of the space needs within a school, all of the evolving and enhanced programs that are in the schools, and how we would create a space that would accommodate that.
Lakeridge is, is very different in that we were able to do a number of very important things in that school. It is a highly sustainable school, very different than anything else here in the district and, and very much so different than anything we have in the state in that it is a hybrid passive building.
So it relies on operable windows and the users in the space to make the building function incredibly efficiently. We also have the building designed as a place of refuge. So very highly resilient. The building was built to withstand a major seismic event. It also has a generator that has a three day runtime and solar panels on the roof that generate electricity.
Space can be used as a place of refuge, as I mentioned, and has a lot of different features within the building space.
So I know Tony, the list is very long, but can you please highlight some of our other completed projects in the district for our listeners?
Certainly. The 2017 Bond Program brought repairs to all of our facilities.
I like to describe it as the 2017 Bond Program stopped the hemorrhaging. When I came here. We took a look at all of the schools and I noticed that we had really aging infrastructure, old building systems, mechanical systems. We had leaky roofs, old windows, unsecured facilities. So we went through and we, we hit all of the highest priority repairs.
So we put in a new mechanical systems, very highly efficient mechanical systems, new lighting, new security upgrades. So we have secured vestibules. We brought technology to the buildings that could support all of our learners. So. Each classroom now can have students on computers online throughout the entire building without having delay.
So new infrastructure for internet was brought into the facilities. We created innovation spaces. All of our elementary schools and our middle schools received. new innovation labs, something that is very new at the time. So now we have a new program that exists in our schools. We updated some of our gardens, we brought seismic upgrades to our schools, the list goes on and on.
We also are getting a new pool. Part of the 2017 bond program has a component with the Lake Oswego Recreation Aquatic Center. Our partnership with the City of Lake Oswego is going to construct a new pool for our student athletes. We're very excited about that project. In fact, that's the only remaining project left in the 2017 bond program.
When are we going to be able to swim in that pool, Tony?
Probably in January of this this coming year.
We're very excited about swimming in that new pool America. I can't wait to see you In the pool I'm excited to see it built. Yes, and our students are going to love it So that does bring us to the end of the 2017 bond and then part of the summer second phase of this program, which was passed in 2021, River Grove Elementary School is getting rebuilt.
What makes that school special? And then when can we expect it to be open for us all?
Yes, great questions. River Grove is special because it is the first elementary school to be rebuilt in quite some time since the early 90s. So similar to Lakeridge Middle School, we had to start out. With that school, looking at how elementary education is being delivered here in the district.
So the first thing that we did was look at what what's missing. What are we trying to include in our schools? How can we enhance our schools? If we were going to think outside of the box, what would a new elementary school look like? And to do that, we talked to teachers. We talked to district leadership.
We talked to community. We talked to our students.
Well, and can you give us some highlights of that new building? I know I've been there numerous times. I love the big windows, the open spaces. What else can you tell us about River Grove for everybody who doesn't get to see it like we do?
Well, the building is almost done.
We can expect to be able to move in. Of course, students will start in the school in the fall. We'll be able to see it before we start school, but a couple of the other things that the school has, you mentioned daylight is very important. So we have lots of large windows, another very highly sustainable building.
We have a backup generator. The building is built to seismic level four. So allowing for immediate occupancy, we've got solar panels on the roof and we're working on installing a battery backup system. So this building has something, what would be called a micro grid. It allows it to be kind of freestanding away from the incoming.
Electric utility for quite some time, allowing it to be a place where people could use as a place of refuge following a major seismic event. And it also can reduce the loads on our public utility grid, which is a kind of an interesting thing. We have sections within the building that you can see structure.
So that's very exciting to see. Two kids when they walk through the building, they can see different pieces of the structure and it gets them really excited about what this building is. We have the raccoon as the mascot at River Grove. So you'll see little raccoons throughout the building. One thing that is very different with this new elementary school that we don't have at some of our other elementary schools.
Are the extended learning spaces. So outside of the classrooms, there are larger corridors. They're not just corridors for circulation. There are areas where small groups can meet. Students can have breakout spaces outside of the classroom. Multiple classrooms can meet in these extended learning areas. So it just opens up the opportunities for different ways of, of teaching.
The classroom configurations are a little bit different also. Usually you have a. a square shaped traditional classroom that is traditionally set up with with tables and rows. These classrooms are set up in a L shaped configuration. We kind of consider it the fat L. But it allows for multiple teaching walls, different ways that you can set up the desks and tables, and the ways that the kids can interact within the spaces.
And then each space has a Corner a corner for kids to reflect to have a breakout space to relax Every classroom has that
in that corner space as you're describing has big windows and a seated area It's it's actually a beautiful part of each classroom But you're forgetting me at one big part of River Grove Elementary School that none of our other elementary schools have yet Can you think of what that is Tony?
That would be cooling, I'm sure. Or conditioned air, as I like to call it. And they also have Well, you're right. It does
have cooling, you're right. But there's another big space that I wanted to make sure people understand that we have in this new building.
Yes. This new River Grove Elementary School has a commons, a cafetorium.
As some call it, but it will be used as a multipurpose space directly adjacent to the main gym that also has an operable partition to open up both of the spaces to act together off of the commons. We have our performance stage a beautiful big space where kids no longer have to eat in their classrooms.
They have a place where they can go eat directly adjacent to that. We have our outdoor spaces that offer outdoor dining, a brand new playground, which is absolutely beautiful. Hardscape places outside covered areas that even play can happen during the winter months when we have rain, which I think happens here once in a while.
Yes. Rain does happen here. It is an amazing building. We're so excited to get the students in there. And speaking of students, you know, as we're talking about re imagining River I get to bring a student guest onto the conversation. So with us today is Cameron. He's in fourth grade at River Grove Elementary.
And he was one of the many students who provided their input into the design of the new schools. Welcome Cameron. Hello. Cameron, why don't you start with telling me a little bit about what do you like in school? Like what are some of your favorite subjects or activities?
I really like math. I like reading a lot.
What is it that you like about math?
Well, I like challenges in math because like I really like figuring out problems. Problem
solver. That's good. Do you like to solve problems around your house too or just in math class?
I like to do both.
That's great. Tell me, what was it like sharing ideas about the new River Grove?
I like sharing ideas about the new River Grove because I'm excited about the new River Grove and how it's going to be. I'm excited for the second floor. And we're going to have lots of space in like the garden, and a new playground, and bigger classrooms.
Yeah, and you're going to be on the second floor because you're going to be in fifth grade next year, right?
Yep. When you were talking about the design of that school, one thing that came up a lot with the students was trees and kind of being in a tree house. Do you remember that? Mm hmm. Yeah. Do you remember where that idea came from? Like, why was that interesting for you?
I haven't really climbed a tree before, but I like the feeling of being like high up like flying because you can like see everything around you, which is really cool.
Yeah. And that's how it's going to feel when you're on the second floor in this building. I've been in there. It is beautiful. And you do feel kind of high up. There's a lot of big windows and there's these trees that are actually in the hallway. So I think you're going to really like that. Do you know your mascot for River Grove?
What is it?
A raccoon.
A raccoon! Yes, and there's tons of little raccoons everywhere in this school, so that's really fun for you to see as well. Now, while the school is being built, you and your classmates have been attending school on the Upland site. What's that been like?
It's been different. It's taken a lot longer to get to school because I live, like, ten minutes away walking to the other school.
And it's, like, across the town. But, like, I'm so glad that I get to see all my friends. I really like my teacher. The building's not that different from the old school. I mean, we don't have like as much soccer field space as we used to because we have like portables in the back
of
the school. Yeah, when you go back to the brand new River Grove school, you have so much outdoor space and a huge soccer field in the back.
You're gonna love that. Do you live near River Grove? Like, can you, have you seen it being built? Yeah. Is that exciting?
I live like 10 minutes away from walking.
Okay, so you've kind of seen it go from the old building to being torn down to being all the way built up. And now there's even parking spaces going in and looks like a school now, don't you think?
Yeah, it looks like a school after like a parking lot was filled in with concrete.
Yeah, absolutely. So what are you most looking forward to about the new school?
That's hard because I love lots of things about the new school, but I'm most excited about the second floor.
The second floor. That's great. You had mentioned earlier too gardens and the new innovation lab.
Do you like innovation? Do you like when you go to innovation class? Yeah. Yeah, the new innovation lab there is beautiful and it's really large and it opens up to the outdoors and it has kind of an undercover area. So there's lots of space to innovate there. Do you think that will be fun?
Yeah. Because at the old school, we were in a portable, and then we had five tables.
And then when we went to Uplands, we got put in a really small room, and we went down to three. So I'm excited to be in a bigger iLab room again.
Yeah. Who is your innovation teacher? Mrs. Van Nuys. Mrs. Van Ise, did you know that Mrs. Van Ise just got nominated to be Teacher of the Year in Oregon? Wow. I know.
Isn't that exciting? Well, thank you, Cameron. I'm so lucky to have you come on the show today. I really appreciate it. Bye. Thanks for having me. And now I'm going to go back to Tony because in addition to River Grove and that new building, we're going to also be building a new Lake Oswego Middle School.
Tony, when will that construction begin and then when are we expected to be complete with it?
Yes, Lake Oswego Middle School has Completed its design, we have hired a contractor and they're actually already working all of the administrative things that happen in the background with ordering materials, making sure that what we call submittals have been submitted and reviewed and approved by our design team permits in hand.
They are ready to proceed. So they're already going through and investigating the building, making sure that their flow of work is going to proceed that the way that they need to. So the day that students. Leave the school in June. Right after that, our contractor will mobilize and proceed with work.
So the first part is to begin demolition, which will take most of the summer and they will be constructing for two years. The school will be complete in July 26. Open for the 26, 27 school year.
And there are a ton of amazing pieces in this school as well. Can you talk a little bit about, I don't know, my favorite part is the library that has the view of Mount Hood.
I mean, let's start there. Can you kind of walk us through the school and how beautiful it will be?
This school has very similar design spaces as Lakeridge Middle School. We followed the same educational specifications for this school. But it has some, some subtle differences. The library, as you mentioned, is located on the second floor.
Kind of a connection between the educational wing and the athletics Slash loud spaces so music and band choir are all near kind of the gym loud areas the commons and such There's a connecting bridge above that also adjacent to that is the library that has these beautiful big windows that look out to Mount Hood Lake Oswego Middle School currently sits on top of a hill and offers these amazing views So we're going to take advantage of that It's going to be a very beautiful building, also highly sustainable, very similar to Lake Ridge Middle School in its approach to sustainability, hybrid passive systems as well.
We're very excited for this, this facility to start.
And our students were also very involved in the design of this building, which was great. We have an architectural class at the middle school and those students were at many of the meetings I was at to give their opinion and share their thoughts on what they want their school to look like.
feel like for the day. So I think that's a great part of our bond program and our design program. And again, all your idea, Tony. So thank you for bringing that to Lake Oswego. The second phase is in progress, yet planning is already underway for the third phase and third phase of this bond program. So what can you tell us about the third phase?
Well, first, what we do is we start with our long range facility planning committee. Made up of community members, staff participates, leadership participates as well during these meetings. The series of meetings is meant to create the big picture for the future of our facilities here at Lake Oswego. So we like to look at what happens in the next five, 10, and up to 15 years out with these updates to our long range plan.
The long range plan describes meeting the educational needs for our facilities, how they respond to evolving programs in our district. One of those things that will inform the next set of programs will be the educational specifications. So we'll, we'll take our learnings from River Grove and look at applying those to our existing elementary schools.
As an example, as we go through the process, we hear from community members about needs that exist in the community. Not just with our students, but as our buildings, our community asset, we look at athletic facilities, spaces within our buildings that can be used by community off hours. And then, of course, we listen to our students.
And then essential to the bond program is our citizen planning and oversight. Can you elaborate a little bit on how do we all work together to make this
work?
We have monthly reports that the bond department puts out to a committee that has been put together called the Bond Accountability Committee.
The Bond Accountability Committee typically is made up of folks in the community that work in finance, may work in construction, legal. Business related, all, all very intertwined with the construction industry. Their charge is to make sure that we are spending the funds that our community provided us in a responsible way.
So in doing that, we create reports, we review the progress of the bond program, and they also help communicate out to the community. They bring us information often about what they're hearing in the community about, about projects or projects. Progress on projects. And that helps us a lot with our communications with the flow of work and those sorts of things.
In addition to that, we get audited. So the district on their own decided to bring in a third party auditing firm to audit the work of the bond department. So what they They do on a quarterly basis as they randomly select procurements and other aspects of our bond program and make sure that we're following the rules.
We have very different rules than private agencies being public. We have to follow procurement rules. So in doing that, it keeps us honest, make sure that we're, we're doing all of the things that, that we need to, to be sure that we're abiding by those rules.
I think you're talking about financial stewardship, and that's so important to us here in Lake Oswego.
I know a lot goes into that, so can you give us some insight into how we've managed to keep our bond phases on track, on time, and more importantly, on budget?
I have the best staff ever. We're a small lean, mean group of project managers that work in this industry and have worked at this industry for a very long time.
We take examples from what we've done over decades of work and apply that to the work that we do here at Lake Oswego. So early planning, budgeting our projects. Implementing our projects into our financial software that we use every day helps us certainly keep on budget and keep on track. When we work with our designers, we make sure that they understand what our budgets are, what we're trying to achieve during the design process to help us deliver those projects.
Accordingly,
and as you know, and as everyone knows, our schools are in our neighborhoods throughout Lake Oswego, and they're the key asset to really to our whole community. So how can residents experience and engage with these new buildings and what they are helping to build?
Well, when we are in design, we always reach out to our parents.
Our parents live around our schools, and they often want to participate. So we often open that up to have participants from our community. May not just be parents. It may be people within the neighborhood that work actively with the neighborhood associations. They can participate in the designs, but they also can provide input that really creates these spaces that are needed in the community.
So we often hear things about, well, we would like to have a meeting place for our neighborhood association meetings. So we have spaces within our buildings that can accommodate that. We get input about how. Students circulate throughout the neighborhoods and get to the schools that inform us to create safe passageways for students.
How do they get to our schools? Those are just a couple of the things.
Tony, we are so fortunate to have you and your expertise and your leadership and your team's efforts on all of our bond projects. We're also very fortunate to have such a supportive community and volunteers who come forward and, and support not only passing of the bond, but in their engagement throughout the process, because these are, like you said, our community assets.
I will say as a resident, one of the things that I am just in awe of every time with the new buildings is, The buildings make the spaces and the surrounding environment around them that you really take Advantage of that and make them more beautiful than I ever thought they could be so it's always a surprise and delight with these new buildings and Definitely feel that with Lake Ridge Middle in my walkthroughs with River Grove I see that and then I know it's gonna be true with the new middle school.
So, thank you
Thank you so much Tony for being here on our show today Anyone does not know who Tony is Please get to know him because he is awe inspiring for everyone.
Wow. Thank you.
Absolutely.
With that, we are going to segue to where's Jen and what are some of the fun and exciting places you'll be this spring, Jen?
Well, spring is always a very busy time. Although I have to tell you, I don't know what time isn't busy for me. So I'm waiting and waiting and waiting for that busy time to stop. And I guess it's not going to. So. I'm just going to have to go with the flow and know that every time is busy, but we have a ton of student growth and development culminating in programs and events.
So for example, the district strings and orchestra festival is on March 19th and that brings together our youngest elementary musicians and our high schoolers, our real accomplished high schoolers. And it's so fun to watch the growth from starting an instrument all the way to graduating from high school.
And it's, Truly inspiring. So I love that. We also have our third annual Asian Cultural Festival on April 7th. It's a wonderful community event organized by our students, which I think is the best part of it. And it's supported by many organizations and businesses in our community. And it includes arts and crafts and food and performances.
It's just, it's an amazing time. I encourage everyone to be there. LO High School, April 7th. Thanks, Jen. Yeah. I refer
to post spring break as the spring sprint to summer, and it's definitely a sprint, so let's put our running shoes on. That concludes today's learning in Lake Oswego. In our next episode, we are going to focus on a very popular and ever growing program in our district and around the state.
It's called Oregon Battle of the Books, or OBOB, if you've heard that term before. So look forward
to that next time. Until next time, keep exploring and stay engaged. Class dismissed.
We hope you found this episode informative and helpful. While our discussions are general, we understand each family's experience is unique.
If you have specific questions about your child, please contact your school principal. To learn more about the topics we discussed, ask a question, or share ideas for future episodes, please visit LOSDSchools. org. And remember to like and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for engaging with Learning in Lake Oswego.
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