Lake Oswego School Board approves feasibility study; plans to gather information on building costs, leasing and walkability

At a packed meeting on Monday, June 17, the Lake Oswego School Board voted to approve a wide range of feasibility studies this summer, hoping to collect more information before planning the future of the district’s facilities.

“Receiving the public testimony, learning more about the proposals, the impacts, the underlying properties has been very impactful for the board,” said Board Chair Brian Bills. “It has shed light on things that we need to know, things we need to get more information on, as well as understanding the pulse of the community. We represent the community as school board members and our charge is to represent the entire LOSD community as best we can.”

The approved motion sets an Oct. 1 deadline for the feasibility studies so that the information can guide the work of the upcoming capital construction bond development committee, which will begin meeting this fall.

The total cost of all feasibility studies “cannot exceed $150,000 without further board action,” according to the approved motion. Executive director of project management Tony Vandenberg said the cost of the studies would come from the capital construction funds.

“I do think it’s really important for all of us to get clear and accurate information for not only the board but the entire community,” said Superintendent Jennifer Schiele. “I would suggest that this work is done between now and August, which is the summer time as you all know, and I think we need to definitely do a poll of likely voters to gauge our community’s priorities.”

Schiele added that, after the feasibility study is completed, she’d like the district to host an open house where the study and polling findings could be shared with the community. Then, following more public input, comment and testimony, the capital construction bond development committee could begin work.

The studies

The studies outlined in the board’s motion will include a cost analysis in projected 2029 dollars for the following proposed construction projects: a new elementary school design comparable to the new River Grove Elementary, a new simpler elementary school design, a comparison of costs between rebuilding and rehabilitating Uplands Elementary and Lake Grove Elementary, cost-saving comparison of using the same design for two elementary schools, adding a new wing to Palisades World Language School, costs of robotics and Career and Technical Education multi-use spaces at Lakeridge and Lake Oswego High Schools, a new Community Transition Program space and a new administration services building that will serve district functions.

The motion also directs the district to gather data regarding bussing, including the average number of school bus riders and average travel times on afternoon and morning routes for each elementary school using 2023-24 enrollment data and current school bus routes, and the number of elementary students located within walking distance of their neighborhood school, which is defined by Oregon state law as within one mile.

Additionally, the feasibility study will gather “real estate valuations and zoning regulations for Forest Hills, Lake Grove, Palisades, and Uplands properties from at least two independent sources” and “analysis of leasing possibilities for Forest Hills, Lake Grove, Palisades, and Uplands properties or portions thereof from at least two independent sources.” Finally, the studies will create an inventory of fields and gyms and potential locations for new and rehabilitated fields and gyms and an inventory of administrative facilities.

Next steps

Bills noted that many of the items outlined for study originate in questions they’ve asked during the long range facilities planning process or from the community through public comments.

“The main thing I need to know is, ‘What do these things cost? What is the menu of items that we can put together and would be under what we think is about $180 million, $185 million,’” said board member John Wallin.

Board member Kirsten Aird said the district doesn’t want to overspend on the studies but believes they’re important and worth the cost.

“We have a reality with the bond that it might not buy all the things we’d hoped it would buy,” Aird said.