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Board supports expanded Benson modernization plan
3/4/2019On Feb 26, the PPS Board of Education voted to expand the Benson modernization project plan to include all the Multiple Pathways to Graduation programs (MPG) that are currently housed at the Benson campus.
The previous master plan, developed between 2016 and 2018, was slated for student capacity of 1,700 Benson Polytechnic High School students and no Multiple Pathways to Graduation programs. But the district undertook a series of listening sessions, analyses of the needs of each of the MPG programs and a survey of other sites in the district where they could be moved to. From these meetings and analyses, it became clear that Benson’s central location and ability to provide hands-on learning experiences offered the MPG students the best opportunity for success.
In the modified Benson Master Plan, additional classroom space will be allocated within the Benson campus to accommodate Portland International Scholars Academy (PISA), Pioneer High School, Portland Evening and Portland Summer Scholars, and Portland Virtual Scholars.
A separate stand-alone building of 33,000 to 41,000 square feet, built on the Benson property, will also be used to house Alliance High School at Benson, Reconnection Center & Services, Teen Parent Childcare and DART/Clinton School. This new building is estimated to cost between $24 million to $36 million and would be funded through inclusion on the 2020 School Bond.
To ensure the Benson project remains on schedule, the Board of Education expects to undertake a capital bond campaign in 2020 to support all phases of the ongoing Benson campus construction, among other projects. This will supplement the remaining money from the 2017 Bond allocated to the Benson project. If a bond is not referred or passed by voters in 2020, the Benson project, inclusive of the MPG dedicated building, is expected to be completed by a Full Faith and Credit Bond.
During the three-year modernization process beginning in summer 2021, Benson staff and students, including Pioneer High School programs, will be temporarily relocated to the Marshall High School campus. Portland Evening and Portland Summer Scholars and PISA will be located at Grant High School for the duration of the Benson construction, and other MPG programs will be moved at Kenton School.
The 2017 Bond provided funding for the modernization of Benson and Madison high schools and the rebuilding of Lincoln High School and Kellogg Middle School. The Bond also provided $150 million in health and safety upgrades. For more information about the Benson project, please visit the Benson modernization webpage.
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