Bethel Security Cameras Spot Interest
Representatives from 23 companies scout possible security camera locations at Danebo Elementary.
More than 30 people representing 23 companies showed up at a mandatory meeting in order to bid on providing security cameras for Bethel schools.
Nearly 100 cameras will be installed on nine Bethel schools this summer, with Malabon and Fairfield due to be outfitted with security cameras in their new buildings.
Companies from Idaho, Washington and Oregon were on hand for the tour of the proposed camera locations.
The security surveillance systems are among the many improvements to be funded through the bond measure that was passed overwhelmingly by Bethel voters last November.
Wanted: Input On New Bethel Schools
In this photo captured by the Register-Guard’s Paul Carter, Malabon mom Shanna Blickle and two of her children look at pictures of new school designs.
This is the fun stuff. The community is being asked to weigh in on the location, design and character of Bethel’s two new elementary schools.
Malabon parents, neighbors and staff turned out for the first public meeting to offer thoughts about their neighborhood’s new school.
The Fairfield community gets to share its visions tonight at 6:00 in the school cafeteria, and there will be more opportunities to offer ideas in June.
All Bethel community members are encouraged to take this survey to help determine the look of the new Malabon and Fairfield schools. Designers from Soderstrom Architects want to know the style of school that will fit in those neighborhoods.
The new schools are scheduled to be ready for the start of the 2015 school year.
Read the Register-Guard article about the Malabon community meeting.
Eyes Opened On Core Teams’ Field Trip
The Fairfield and Malabon Core Teams marvel at the light and bright Kalapuya Elementary School in Salem.
When trying to conceptualize a new school there’s no substitute for seeing the real thing. That’s why the Core Teams from Fairfield and Malabon visited two newer elementary schools in Salem that were designed by Bethel’s architects, Soderstrom.
The Core Teams, made up of volunteer staff and community members, saw for themselves how light and bright new schools can be. They learned more about school design and why certain parts of a school should be located in particular areas for both educational and operational efficiencies.
The Teams also witnessed how hallway pullout areas next to classrooms can be utilized as part of the instructional process.
Now they can use this knowledge to provide better input into the design of the new schools in Bethel.
District Moves On Security Camera Project
Side-by-side testing of security cameras has helped the District determine precisely what will work best for its schools.
After weeks of studying our security needs, closely comparing security cameras and recorders, and determining probable costs the District is ready to move ahead on the project that will enhance security in our schools.
A Request For Proposal has been posted that will likely attract interest from security companies from throughout the state. It calls for nearly 100 security cameras spread over nine District schools (excluding Fairfield and Malabon which will have cameras in their new schools).
The systems will allow for live and recorded viewing of the cameras, which will be vandal and weather resistant. The security camera system should be installed this summer in time for the start of the coming school year.
Combined with new classroom door locks that can be locked from the inside, the cameras will help to significantly improve basic security in Bethel schools.
Architects Begin Meeting With Excited Bethel Staff
Willamette Science teacher Kristy Morrow points out classroom design issues to Andrew Burke and Henry Fitzgibbon (right) of Soderstrom Architects.
A few weeks after being selected as the District’s architect, designers from Soderstrom Architects have met with Bethel staff to talk about creating new school buildings.
Henry Fitzgibbon and Andrew Burke listened to teachers at Willamette about a new Science addition at the school. It’s the first of many information sharing and gathering opportunities that will lead to modern Science classrooms at WHS.
Architects shared long range plans with the combined staffs from Fairfield and Malabon.
The two architects also heard from the excited Fairfield and Malabon staffs, who are looking forward to new schools to replace their current buildings.
Smaller core teams from each school will include community members, and will continue to meet with architects from Soderstrom throughout the spring and summer to develop new elementary schools that meet the needs of the students, staff and the community.
The first community-wide meetings about the school designs are May 7th at Fairfield and May 8th at Malabon.
Soderstrom Selected To Design Bethel Schools
Soderstrom’s Henry Fitzgibbon tours Malabon as part of his preparation to design a pair of new elementary schools in Bethel.
The Bethel School Board has enthusiastically approved the hiring of Soderstrom Architects, a Portland-based design firm.
Soderstrom, led by Principal Architect Henry Fitzgibbon, will design the new Fairfield and Malabon elementary schools and the new Science addition at Willamette High School.
The Bond Oversight Task Force was impressed with Soderstrom’s resume, but also its ability to design schools that fit particular neighborhoods while still being functional, efficient, modern and inviting. The Task Force was captivated with a number of architectural firms’ proposals and the final two firms in contention were very, very close.
Soderstrom will be seeking public input on the design, and construction on all three projects could begin next winter. Bids have not yet been sought from Contractors or Engineering firms.
Architect Proposals Being Considered
Proposals from 15 architectural firms were delivered to the Bethel School District office. They are now being graded to help determine the architect(s) to design Bethel’s new schools.
Submissions from 15 architectural firms are now being graded by Bethel’s Bond Oversight Task Force.
The architects are proposing to design all or portions of Bethel’s school construction projects, including new Malabon and Fairfield elementary schools, and new science classrooms at Willamette High School.
Smaller projects include repairs or upgrades such as school roofing jobs.
The top candidates will be invited for interviews before the selected architect(s) will be announced. That will signal the start of the exciting design phase of the school projects.
Curriculum Task Force Hits The Books
Echo Groff, Autumn Minson and Debi Bostwick share findings during the Curriculum Adoption Task Force meeting.
It’s the Bethel group in charge of determining which subjects need new classroom textbooks, which subjects should get new textbooks first, and when those new textbooks should be purchased.
The Curriculum Adoption Task Force was created after voters approved the Bethel bond measure to pay for new textbooks.
The Task Force, made up of Bethel staff members from every level, studied how long it’s been since each subject adopted new textbooks.
They also examined the Oregon Department of Education’s textbook adoption cycle, and Bethel’s student test scores broken down by subject.
The Curriculum Adoption Task Force will forward its recommendations to the District’s Curriculum Committee, which will determine the precise books to adopt for Bethel students.
Task Force Talks Tech Enhancements
Superintendent Colt Gill shows the Tech Task Force new all-in-one touch screen computers that could be used by all Bethel schools.
Replacing all the computers throughout the district is just one of the goals of the Bethel Bond Technology Task Force.
The group of Bethel educators is determining how to best use more than $3 million from the Bethel Bond Measure to enhance technology in our schools.
Before computers are purchased extensive infrastructure upgrades need to be in place, including hundreds of wireless hubs throughout all Bethel schools.
Core switches, improved power supplies and new servers must also be installed to handle the new computers that will come online.
It’s estimated that new computers can be successfully introduced beginning in January 2014.
The Technology Task Force is also considering the timeline, costs, selection, installation, assessment, and training with new technology throughout the school district.
Interest Is High For Bethel Projects
Bethel’s Pat Bradshaw takes architects and engineers on a tour of the Malabon school property.
The turnout was impressive. 50 representatives of architectural and engineering firms showed up at a meeting about Bethel’s three school building projects.
The event provided architects and engineers a brief overview of the district’s intention to build new Fairfield and Malabon elementary schools and add science classrooms at Willamette High School.
The meeting was followed by tours of the three sites.
Architects must have their proposals submitted by February 12th. The top candidates will be interviewed by a selection committee before the winning architect(s) is chosen.
Actual school designs will be developed after the architect(s) has been hired.