Editor’s note: Our Town is presenting a school-by-school review of the facility challenges at buildings covered by the Silver Falls School District bond proposal on the Nov. 7 ballot.
By Stephen Floyd
A number of schools in the Silver Falls School District (SFSD) are relics of the baby boom, including Silver Crest, Evergreen and Victor Point schools all constructed in 1947.
While built with more modern ideas about education and construction, they still lack what is now considered basic necessities, such as security and ADA accessibility.
Over the last several months the SFSD Bond Advisory Committee and district officials – following a series of school-by-school listening sessions – constructed a plan to address critical facility challenges.
After reviewing the committee’s proposal, the SFSD board put the $138 million bond measure to carry out those plans before the voters on the Nov. 7 ballot. If passed, a state grant of $4 million will be awarded.
The bond addresses repairs and renovations at 10 district-owned schools, and replaces Silverton Middle School.
For property owners in the district, the estimated cost per thousand tax increase over the current rate is $1.60 per $1,000 in assessed value.
The plan identifies repairs or renovations of $5.6 million for Silver Crest, $2.8 million for Evergreen and $2.7 million for Victor Point.
Silver Crest
Silver Crest may be one of the schools most in need of repairs. The extremes of icy winters and sweltering summers at Drake’s Crossing have taken a toll on the concrete and pipes, while corrosive groundwater has created a threat to the lead plumbing.
These problems came to a dramatic crescendo in 2021 and 2022 when, on two separate occasions, a corroded pipe started leaking sewage beneath the concrete floor of the cafeteria. The old concrete gave way and sewage was pooling on the floor in the middle of lunchtime, which Principal Melissa Linder said “wasn’t a super enjoyable day for anyone.”
While some additions are newer, including classrooms in the 1980s and a gym from the 1990s, the original building is literally crumbling. Pebbles of concrete are often swept off the walkways, Linder said.
“Sending your kids out the door every day, you want to send them to the best people and you want to send them to the best possible environment,” she said.
The cafeteria where the leaks occurred is also only accessible by stairs, as are the classrooms in the main building and the main bathrooms. This creates a significant challenge for students who need mobility assistance and the teachers and staff who help them. Linder said ADA improvements are a major priority for Silver Crest.
The bond includes replacing the roofs, which bear the brunt of weather extremes such as heavy snow. At around 1,500 feet altitude, Silver Crest receives heavy snow multiple times a year, forcing closures and causing stress on the building.
This same stress made the library dangerous to occupy when snow was on the roof because the walls started bowing over time. This had been a high priority for the bond until grant funding came through this year for a seismic upgrade.
Evergreen
Evergreen’s history, includes the bell above the entrance that dates back to the previous schoolhouse built in 1891. After its construction in 1947, it gained a reputation for above-average students and was nicknamed “The Education Corner.”
While the old schoolhouse has character it is showing its age with regular leaks in the basement that houses the K-1 class and the only bathrooms in the building, according to administrators. Last year the sump pump broke and the basement flooded, causing the K-1 class to be canceled and bathrooms to be replaced by portapotties for days.
Water mitigation is a high priority the district hopes to tackle with the proposed bond, as well as roof improvements and a centralized heating system. The tall ceilings of the main classrooms make it difficult to keep little hands and feet warm.
The building needs significant ADA improvements. The main entrance can only be accessed by stairs; same for the basement, bathrooms, library, and a multi-use area.
District Spokesperson Derek McElfresh said ADA upgrades are among the most pressing needs for Evergreen.
“Accessibility, I know for this building, is one of the biggest things,” he said.
Security upgrades are also on the list. There is no front desk to monitor people entering. Those using that entrance during school hours must be buzzed in by a teacher, who has a security monitor displayed during class. It’s a task that can distract from instruction.
Additional security at and around the entrance is also needed to limit access by students to the busy highway out front, according to the plans.
While a new playshed was proposed during initial meetings with the community, residents said they are satisfied with the current structure and view other upgrades as a priority. The district expects minimal improvements to the current playshed.
Victor Point
In many ways, Victor Point represents the standards the district is hoping to achieve, though there’s still work to be done.
In 2016, the district received a state grant for a seismic retrofit at Victor Point, which included new roofing, lighting and exterior walls. The community also came together with the district and recently funded a large playshed that allows for covered recess.
The result is a school that feels far more modern than its initial construction date of 1947. But the district says there are still needs to get Victor Point up to standard.
On the to-do list are utility upgrades, as many systems are original to the 1947 construction such as HVAC, sewer and electrical. Windows also need to be replaced for both energy efficiency and safety.
Broader security upgrades are also prioritized such as cameras and modern doors since some doors have easy access to a busy highway. This upgrade has a head start as fencing was added around the playground in recent years after timber was cleared.
Principal Elyse Hansen said safety needs to be a top priority both to protect students and the community, and also to foster learning.
“If someone doesn’t feel safe or comfortable, that takes away from learning when they have to focus on a safety concern,” she said.
