Nestucca Valley School District: Cloverdale, Oregon

Funded by a $25.7M bond passed in May 2018 and a $4.0M State OSCIM matching grant, Otak was selected to lead managing projects for the new build and renovation of Nestucca Valley School District.

A K-8 Vision

The vision began with conversion of the existing Elementary School, built in 1953, into a modern K-8 Campus. This allows the district to integrate the 7th and 8th graders into a space they can finally call their own after being taught at the High School location since the closing of the Middle School a few years prior.  

The new K-8 campus scope includes major modernization of the existing elementary school to address a variety of goals:

• Water quality
• Heating and ventilation upgrades
• Fire sprinklers
• Completely new exterior siding and windows
• LED lighting upgrades and interior finishes  

Expansion of the campus included construction of a new addition of 45,500 GSF new general education and science classrooms, specialized education space, library, media center, flexible teaching spaces, student commons, cafeteria, and a gymnasium. Also included will be major enhancements to safety and security systems, internet access and information technology and communications systems.

These spaces will provide a modern, flexible teaching and community gathering environment for decades. The addition will also house the Nestucca Valley School District administrative offices. 

Practical Improvements

Exterior improvements will include enhanced student transportation loading and drop-off zones, ample safe lighted parking areas for operations, community events and evening student programs. The design placed an emphasis on the student outdoor learning space, playgrounds and equipment with areas of low maintenance landscaping. At completion, all existing modular classrooms and District offices will be removed. 

All of the improvements at the K-8 campus will open space at the Nestucca Junior Senior High School to be re-purposed to allow for planned expansion of existing and new Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. 

Otak’s Role

This bond management oversight role included overall coordination of deliverables from owner, jurisdiction, design team members and CM/GC construction services. This included budgeting, value engineering and the procurement process of subcontractors and vendors. Proactive monitoring and open collaboration and communications with the team members, district stakeholders and the public are key to the success of this program. 

Otak held virtual engagement sessions with community residents. That information helped prioritize and validate the community’s perception of using the new school as a community emergency center. Ultimately, diligent cost and budget management through the pandemic kept the project $3.2 million under budget and allowed the District to add an additional project while optimizing taxpayer funds.