Over the next year, the Lincoln County School District will be replacing the aging grandstand facility and restrooms used by the athletes, students, community, and supporters of Newport High School programs. The district will use a total of $2,000,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to build new grandstands and bathroom facilities at Newport High School for the 2022-2023 school year. Reyna Mattson, the Principal of Newport High said, “We are ecstatic about the news we will receive new grandstands!” Mattson was part of the team that put together the case for why they are needed as part of the application process.
The application for the funds was submitted to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) by LCSD leadership since the current grandstand facility is in need of replacement. The grandstands are the only location on-site that meets the open-air space definition. This limits the school’s ability to provide a space for classes to gather outside, an outdoor place for students to eat lunch, and host extracurricular activities outdoors. Additionally, the current grandstands are undersized for the school size and community population. The current bathroom facility is small with limited space to wash hands.
The new outdoor space will be used for music classes and performances, assemblies, club meetings, and other class activities that were prohibited due to COVID distancing requirements under ODE’s Ready Schools Safe Learners (RSSL) guidance. Approval of funds for this project supports ongoing efforts to allow more activities to return to the school while providing space to conduct them more safely under a range of distancing and sanitation requirements for students as well as community members.
Rich Belloni, Facilities Director of Lincoln County School District said that LCSD will develop a plan to select an architect for the project. LCSD will work with the architect, staff, and others to design the space. LCSD will then advertise for a (CMGC) Construction Manager General Contractor. LCSD is looking for completion in September of 2022. Contingency funding for this project will come from the District’s Construction Excise Tax revenues.
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