Bond program moves to construction milestones; Jefferson, Cleveland and Ida B. Wells on schedule for 2029 openings

The RISE bond team updated the Portland Public Schools board on the district’s capital projects and bond program status on May 26, reporting movement from design to construction on several major modernization projects and athletics improvements.

Lede: Jefferson High School, Cleveland High School and Ida B. Wells modernizations remain on the schedule targeting summer 2029 openings, with Jefferson and Cleveland groundbreakings scheduled in the coming weeks. Staff said Grant Bowl stadium lights were commissioned and Marshall field amenities are being readied for student and community use.

Nut graf: The update covered program financials, encumbrances and schedules across the 2012/2017 closeouts and 2020/2025 bond programs, with RISE staff noting incremental progress on design milestones and a list of 2026 summer projects (seismic work, roofing, deferred maintenance) that will proceed when school is out.

Representative quote:
"We are about 75% through the design of Jefferson; groundbreaking is scheduled for Friday and we are excited to begin construction." — TJ Hopkins, Senior Program Director, RISE.

What to watch: Staff will continue to provide permit and schedule updates as projects move to construction; board members asked for detailed permit timelines where graphic summaries shifted between packet versions.