In the past four years, Redmond schools have upgraded a number of aging facilities with funds from a 2020 bond, prioritizing safety and reducing maintenance costs. However, there is still much more to be done.

Since school got out for summer, major work was done on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at Redmond High School. More than 30 large exhaust fans were replaced for the first time since school was built. The fans move air throughout the building and specifically cater to each room.

“We can get better airflow at a better rate and temper it better for each of the classrooms to make a more comfortable atmosphere,” said Chad Franke, regional director for HMK Company, which provides project management services for the Redmond School District.

The outdated fans were inefficient and required a lot of maintenance, said Franke.

An upgraded HVAC system was put in at Hugh Hartman Elementary School as well.

The new systems are energy efficient, projected to save $69,354 in utility costs at Redmond High and $74,797 at Hugh Hartman, according to Logan McGinnis, Redmond School District public information officer.

“Anything we save in utilities is huge for us,” McGinnis said.

This summer, an additional doorway was added inside the main Redmond High entrance to improve security. Upgrades were also done to some art rooms and the welding shop on the school’s south side. Other work was down in the bowels of the building to keep things from

“A lot of the changes are not really seen to the naked eye,” McGinnis said.

The school district received $27.5 million from the 2020 bond. That money was used to meet the needs of numerous buildings, McGinnis said.

In the last four years since the bond passed, Vern Patrick Elementary School’s front parking lot was repaved and updated to be ADA-compliant. The school also added six new classrooms.

Tom McCall Elementary School also added six new classrooms paid for by the 2020 bond.

Obsidian Middle School’s main offices were moved and refurbished. Their old placement in the middle of the school caused security risks. Crews also built a new main entryway.

The 2020 bond also paid for Tumalo Community School’s new roof and Hugh Hartman’s new boiler system. M.A. Lynch Elementary School had minor painting jobs, ceiling tile updates and other work done.

New security and camera systems were issued at every school in the district. A water bottle refill station was added to each school as well.

Most renovations from the summer of 2024 should be done by the time school starts. Some additional work may be done to the welding shop, which Franke said is a “big part” of the bond project. Crews specifically worked on improving the exhaust fumes and smoke. Franke said welding work generally made the place stuffy and not properly ventilated, and when it was the smoky air would be distributed throughout the school. Franke decided to put the welding shop on its own dedicated system.

“The program has been so successful,” Franke said. “It’s really outgrown the current system.”

John Tuck Elementary and Tumalo Community School had seismic work done with a $25,000 Oregon Technical Assistance Program. The seismic work included constructing an interior metal structure to preserve the original building in case of an earthquake. It was a separate project than those relating to the 2020 bond upgrades.

What still needs to be done?

In November, Redmond citizens will vote on a bond that would bring in $97.7 million to continue upgrading district buildings and infrastructure — a large chunk at Redmond High. The new bond would replace expiring, 20-year measures from 2004 so district residents will not see a tax increase, though they would see a decrease if the measure fails.

The pipes are original to the building and all connected, Franke said. If the boiler ever shuts off, there will be significant leaks. Franke and his team had to shut off the system during some of their upgrade work, and the ceiling is still dripping in the cafeteria. Franke said the boilers have to run 24/7, 365 days per year — costing the district money and wasting energy.

If the 2024 bond is passed, work on the boiler pipes won’t likely begin until summer 2026. It will take about a year to plan and design the next steps, Franke said. The work will significantly impact Redmond High operations, though how it will look is still under consideration.

“We’d probably create modular (classrooms) for students,” said Franke. “Maybe we can shift some classrooms (during renovations). It’s kinda still up in the air.”

If the bond passes, some projects will begin next summer. That work could include lighting upgrades and renovation work to the north side of the schools by restoring classrooms.

McGinnis also mentioned there may be a new art piece installed on the new Redmond High School’s entryway. The plan is to have a metal panther above the second pair of doors.

“It’ll be like a really cool design, just something to see when people walk in,” McGinnis said.

Further renovations will be done to the welding shop and other career and technical education programs.

Other areas proposed to be remodeled are the gym, theater, cafeteria and kitchen. In 2012, the south side of the school was renovated. If the bond is passed, the plan is to upgrade the north side.

The funds would further improve safety, update systems, repairs and even expand Tumalo Community School from a K-5 school to a K-8 school, according to the bond renewal press release.

Most students return to school on Sept. 4, with second to sixth and ninth graders returning Sept. 3 and first graders starting Sept. 5. Kindergarteners start Sept. 12.