Image by pamplinmediagroup.com By Liam Crafton
Staff Writer The Lake Oswego School Board is considering three proposals for school renovation over the next twenty-five years, one of which would including building a new school at the Lakeridge Junior High site. The LOSD has many buildings in need of severe repairs. Both Oak Creek Elementary and Lakeridge Junior High have leaks, and LJH also has large cracks throughout due to foundation issues. Because of the poor school conditions, a proposal has been made to build two new schools and update the others. Students and teachers alike at LJH are excited about the proposal, which has been needed for a long time. “It definitely needs to happen because the school is falling into disrepair with caved in ceilings,” said Aidan Strealy, an eighth grader at LJH. “It would be a safer building, more advanced building, and parents would want to put their kids in school,”. Students are also looking forward to newer features in the new building, such as a larger lunch room to accommodate the growing student body, solar panels, and safer architecture. “It would make everyone more together. Right now 6th grade is so far away. Also it would be safer, with no leaks and cracks. It’d be more secure,” explains Julie Crafton, a sixth grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher. Mrs. Crafton has always noticed the low quality of LJH, but was not adamant about the new school proposal until a student pointed out to her that “a light was leaking”, or at least the ceiling around it was. There are major issues that would be fixed in a new building. However, there are some issues with the plans. Funds would either have to raised from parents or old schools would have to be sold to pay for new buildings. According a survey cited by Oregon Live, the district needs to spend $24 million over the next ten years to maintain current facilities. Rebuilding schools would make it even more costly. The construction would also take longer than summer break to build the new schools, so students would be displaced or distracted. “The year of displacement that it takes to rebuild would be bad,” Mrs. Crafton expalined. When asked if keeping students at LJH while building a new facility, Strealy also had concerns. “It would be very distracting from large noises, and people would deviate from what they’re supposed to do.” While there are some complications, students and teachers agree a new Lakeridge Junior High is extremely necessary. Comments are closed.
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LJHSLakeridge Junior High School is an award-winning academic institution located in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Archives
October 2018
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