Architects have focused on student safety and grade-level clustering for future new and renovated schools in the Oregon City School District.

Representatives from TCI/TMP Architects explained their plan for five of the district's schools with the schematic designs they reviewed with the Oregon Board of Education and about 15 community members at a special meeting last week.

Coy Elementary School is the only building that will be completely rebuilt, while there would be significant additions and renovations made to Clay High School, and some additions and renovations made to the three elementary schools: Jerusalem, Wynn, and Starr. The expected cost for the project is $45 million.

Income from a $45 million bond issue that was approved in November by school district voters will pay off bonds for the building improvements over 28 years. "We are on budget with all things factored in," said board member Steve Hornyak.

Each of the schools will be modified so visitors have to check in before they will be permitted to enter the buildings, and the schools were designed to have classrooms of the same grade level clustered in a similar location, according to the preliminary plans that have yet to be approved by the school board, said John Gilliland, assistant superintendent of business affairs and operations.

Coy School, 2630 Pickle Rd., is a priority for the district because of its proximity to the Sunoco refinery's tank farm and because it's 78 years old. The new school, which would be built for 600 students, would be located down the road from the current school on land already owned by the district at Pickle and Schmidlin roads.

The "prairie-style" building would have parking lots to the north and south, bus and drop-off loops, and ball fields in the back of the building near covered outdoor play areas. After school hours, the public could enter the gym through two side doors and not gain access to any of the classrooms, which would be built around the perimeter of the building.

As for Clay High School, an upside-down, V-shaped addition would be connected to the front of the school for classrooms, science and computer labs, and a media center. The main high school uses two old school buildings on either side that would be demolished for additional parking lots, and an addition would be built on the back of the school for career-prep courses.

Jerusalem and Wynn will be modified for 450 students. Jerusalem would have a large addition added to the southern portion of the school that would hold a new gym, a stage, a dining area, a kitchen, and an administration center. The new main entry way would be in the addition, and new parking spaces and a bus loop would be featured outside the building.

An addition on Wynn will come complete with a new gym, a kitchen, a dining area, three new kindergarten classrooms, and an administrative area. A new entryway will be featured next to a bus loop, while the existing gym will become the new media center, which will be located next to an enclosed outdoor courtyard.

Starr will hold 600 students after architects add a computer lab, rework two special-education rooms, and add two kindergarten classrooms near a gated outdoor play area.

Although the district's school buildings are all more than 40 years old, the two middle schools - Eisenhower and Fassett - were in the best condition, but need some renovations. Plans for those schools are still in the works.

Some school district residents had concerns regarding the schools' technology, roofs, and traffic with busing. They also occasionally suggested cost-savings measures.

"I think we've got some issues we need to address to make sure we're on the same page," Mr. Hall said, adding that he felt a resolution approving the designs was not appropriate last week.

Instead, architects said they'd study alternatives the board and the audience suggested and would address the issues at the board's next regular meeting on July 13.

First Published June 30, 2005, 12:20 p.m.