Since a school improvement levy was initiated by voters in 2018, Ashland School District has undergone several construction projects. This $109 million bond promised district-wide security, HVAC and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades, bathroom improvements, and technology infrastructure. The majority of the construction upgrades have been allocated to Helman Elementary, Walker Elementary, Ashland Middle School, and TRAILS Outdoor School (formerly known as John Muir School). The renovations, which have gained approval from the general public, have changed the look and feel of these campuses for the better. However, Ashland High School seems to have been left behind in this construction work, receiving few upgrades in the past 6 years.
At the beginning of their evaluation process, the bond committee looked into the condition of all district buildings. Ashland High School was not prioritized as needing significant structural upgrades. Instead, it was decided that ramps for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Science classroom remodels, and HVAC improvements would be the main projects. Seismic upgrades for the AHS Humanities building was obtained through a separate grant that was applied for after bond funds were allocated elsewhere. Most of the construction at AHS was scheduled for the end of the district’s overall construction cycle. The school did receive new stairs to the library building, due to the fact that the old ones had begun to crumble by the end of the 2022-23 school year and were deemed unsafe. The ramps were also installed around the outdoor campus. The rest of the plans for upgrades were put on hold through the COVID-19 pandemic, largely because of the costs.
Once constructions costs had stabilized, the bond committee decided to reinstate their original construction plans for the school after a reevaluation of their priorities and an analysis of the budget. Ashland School District reapplied for the seismic grant, which allowed them to begin the upgrades the AHS Humanities building. They have now begun work on Science and Humanities classrooms, relocating students to a building at Lincoln School across Siskiyou Boulevard to attend classes.
Currently, AHS seems to be on a downward slope in terms of its structural integrity. The halls of the AHS library building are lined with trash cans to collect dripping water from the ceiling. Students and parents received an email on March 8 from Samuel Bognadove, ASD’s superintendent, stating that, “the roof on our Science building has unfortunately failed and is now in an unacceptable state.” The $2.5 million seismic grant will not be enough to repair it.
Despite these realities, the district still plans to fulfill the promise the bond made. The problem is that the promise simply didn’t go anywhere near satisfying the needs of this school. They have done so with other schools – most of the elementary and middle schools in the district have been completely remodeled, now glistening with shiny modern architecture. The renovation of those schools created better learning environments for students, and safer facilities for teachers and faculty. Until the same happens at Ashland High School, it will continue to be the blight of Ashland School District.
