Renovation of an educational facility in Newport, Oregon. Completed plans call for the renovation of a educational facility.

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/04/08/oregon-schools-covid-19-pandemic-relief-federal-funds-school-districts-classroom-improvements/ Principal Kristin Tocano Becker never thought she’d see the day her school would get a new gym. “It’s not a thing I thought I would see completed in the time that I anticipate working,” Tocano Becker said. The current gym at Yaquina View Elementary, part of the Lincoln County School District, actually doubles as a cafeteria. “Because we need the cafetorium for PE and indoor recess space, our kids, pre-COVID, were eating in classrooms because there wasn’t a dedicated space for them to eat,” Tocano Becker said. Even the ability to hold indoor recess is limited by the size of the gym; teachers roll carts full of board games into their classrooms because there isn’t room for everyone in the gym. Early in the pandemic, the state’s six-foot social-distancing rule meant only 20 children could be in the gym. Still, Tocano Becker wasn’t sure a new gym was possible. “It’s millions of dollars, and that’s not easy to come by,” she said. But now, this fall, Yaquina View will have a new full-size gym, paid for by $3 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan. Districts across Oregon are required to spend some of their new, one-time, federal funds from the American Rescue Plan, also known as ESSER III, on addressing learning loss. But there’s no real requirement for the rest of the money. That leaves school leaders with a lot of money to spend on almost anything, as long as it connects to the pandemic. Nurses, staffing wellness programs, communications staff, port-a-potties, playgrounds and buses are all ways they’re planning to use their federal dollars. At the same time, these dollars give some districts, especially smaller ones, an opportunity to address long-standing problems while also responding to the pandemic. In Lincoln County, district officials plan to use federal dollars on targeted intervention and extended learning opportunities, similar to other districts, to support students who may have fallen further behind during the pandemic. “Not all students have the same level of incomplete learning. Students are already receiving assistance from their teachers during the typical class day,” said Lincoln County School District Business Services Director Kim Cusick in an email to OPB. “However, for those students who need additional support, we wanted to provide extra learning time after school and during the summer,” Cusick said. Lincoln County will also use some of its funds to replace lost Chromebooks, textbooks and library books. District officials estimate they’ve lost 350 Chromebooks, 266 elementary school textbooks and almost 1,000 library books. North Marion, Newberg and Pendleton school districts have also outlined plans to purchase Chromebooks with the federal funds. ____________________________________________________________ As of 10/06/2021 This project has not been awarded. Lincoln County School District is requesting Request for Proposals for a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) service for a gymnasium at Yaquina View Elementary School. CM/GC will be working with the architect to determine available components for final design and build of this project to meet owner timeline. Standalone gymnasium 7,500 sq.