Promises Made, Promises Kept
Bond delivers substantial safety upgrades for every school in district

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Thanks to the 2016 Gresham-Barlow School Bond, the district was able to invest in substantial safety and security projects at every school in the district.
- 1800 internally-locking doors for every classroom in every campus.
- New, state-of-the-art base radio stations installed at every school and district level building.
- Modern vestibule entrances installed at all 17 campuses.
- Report conducted by an independent safety consultant concluded bond improvements increased the district’s safety rating by 37%.
- The district invested over $13 million into safety improvements as part of the Gresham-Barlow School Bond.
“Parents can rest easy knowing that now our schools are among the safest place in the community for our students. We heard from families that investment in safety and security was a top priority, and the Gresham-Barlow School Bond successfully delivered safety improvements for every student and educator.”
James Hiu, Gresham-Barlow School District Superintendent
Read More:
- Teachers, administrators embrace safety features of new buildings
- Bond-funded school buildings prepared to serve community during crises
- Town Hall event highlights District commitment to school security and student safety
- New secured entrances provide safety, security for students
- New and upgraded radio system coming to Gresham-Barlow schools, buses
- Bond-funded classroom security measures installed this spring
Gresham-Barlow School Bond funded improvements across the district

It’s difficult for students to learn or educators to teach in outdated classrooms lacking basic facilities. Before the Bond, Gresham-Barlow schools had leaky roofs, unreliable heating or air conditioning, or drafty windows. With bond construction complete, the district invested in expanding educational opportunities and modernizing classrooms.
- 16 new classrooms built at Hall, Hollydale Elementary and Deep Creek-Damascus. Deep-Creek Damascus shifted from a K-5 to a K-8 configuration.
- Updated and improved vocational classrooms and facilities for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming at Gresham and Sam Barlow High Schools.
- Heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC) systems replaced at Dexter McCarty Middle School, Gordon Russell Middle School, West Orient Middle School. Highland Elementary School received a new boiler.
- New roofs installed at Gordon Russell and Dexter McCarty Middle Schools, enhancing energy efficiency and saving the district money on energy costs.
Read More:
- New classroom technology assisting teachers during comprehensive distance learning
- Beyond the “Four Bigs”, numerous bond projects underway across district
- New district partnership connects students with construction, marketing professionals
- Investments in heating, cooling modernize campuses across the district
Citizen Bond Oversight Committee issues final report

With completion of the renovations at Gresham High School, the work on the 2016 Gresham-Barlow School Bond has officially finished.
Citizen-led Bond Oversight Committee that reviewed District Bond spending issued unanimous verdict: Gresham-Barlow School District kept their promises to voters and delivered on time and on budget an ambitious slate of modernization projects across the entire districts.
District’s construction completed every project promised to voters in 2016.
The Gresham Chamber of Commerce recognized the Gresham-Barlow School District for their effort to invest in local businesses by granting the district the 2017 “Try Local First” Champion Award.
“If a school district out there wants to see how to run a bond program right, Gresham-Barlow does it right. Every step of the way, the school district was paying attention to every dollar to make sure they were being good stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars.”
Jason Dugan, Vice Chair, Bond Oversight Committee
“I thought the team did exactly what they said they were going to do when the bond was approved. If you compare what Gresham-Barlow did compared to other school districts, I think the district stands head and shoulders above our peers.”
George Seaman, Chair, Bond Oversight Committee, Port of Portland
“This bond project way over delivered what they promised the public.”
Bess Wills, business owner, Bond Oversight Committee
Read More:

Full list of improvements across the district
Springwater Trail High School
- Secure front entry, office modifications
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Security Cameras, Access Control
- New exterior Covered basketball court (to be completed in 22/23 school year)
- New selected furniture throughout the school-Chairs to arrive summer 2022
Clear Creek Middle School
- New STEM labs
- Upgraded HVAC System with added cooling system to gym
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- New main office and Library switch areas
- New Classroom Furniture
- New Interactive Flat Panel with voice amplification all classrooms
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
Deep Creek K-8
- School moved to new location on 242nd
- 4 new classrooms, including one science classroom
- School converted to K-8 configuration
- HVAC system upgrade
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- New playground equipment and surfacing
- New Classroom Furniture
- New Interactive Flat Panel with voice amplification all classrooms
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
- After DCDK8 was remodled students moved over from location on 242nd- Formerly Damascus MS
Dexter McCarty Middle School
- New STEM labs and support areas
- Upgraded HVAC System with added cooling system to gym
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- New Classroom Furniture
- New Interactive Flat Panel with voice amplification all classrooms
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
Gordon Russell Middle School
- Upgraded HVAC Air Handeling System with Chiller replacement 2022
- New STEM labs and support areas
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- New Classroom Furniture
- New Interactive Flat Panel with voice amplification all classrooms
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
West Orient Middle School
- Internally locking door hardware at all classrooms
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- Upgraded HVAC System with added Furnances with A/C upper floor classrooms and air conditioning added to lower wing classrooms and gym.
- New Classroom Furniture
- New Interactive Flat Panel with voice amplification all classrooms
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
East Orient Elementary
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- New playground equipment and surfacing
- New Classroom Furniture
- New Interactive Flat Panel with voice amplification all classrooms
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
Hall Elementary
- 6 new classrooms
- New Bus loop
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- New Polished Concrete floors throughout
- New playground equipment and surfacing
- New Classroom Furniture
- New Interactive Flat Panel with voice amplification all classrooms
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
Highland Elementary
- Upgraded heating system, roof, polished concrete flooring
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- New playground equipment and surfacing
- New Classroom Furniture
- New Interactive Flat Panel with voice amplification all classrooms
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
Hogan Cedars Elementary
- Secure vestibule front entry, office modifications
- New playground equipment and surfacing
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Security Cameras, Access Control
Hollydale Elmentary
- 6 new classrooms added
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- New playground equipment and surfacing
- New Classroom Furniture
- New Polished Concrete floors
- New Interactive Flat Panel with voice amplification all classrooms
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
Kelly Creek Elementary
- New roof, polished concrete flooring
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- New Classroom Furniture
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
Powell Valley Elementary
- Upgrades to heating system
- Secure Vestibule Front Entry
- New playground equipment and surfacing
- New Classroom Furniture
- New Polished Concrete floors throughout
- New Interactive Flat Panel with voice amplification all classrooms
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
- New Fire Alarm, Intercom, Security Cameras, Access Control
West Gresham Elementary
- New Classroom Furniture
- New security hardware for all classrooms, offices and accessible spaces
East Gresham Elementary
- This building replaces the old East Gresham campus, which was first built in 1950.
- The new building has 75,000 square feet and 31 new classrooms, each with a 65 inch interactive flat panel touch screen for a modern education.
- The new East Gresham includes a modern secure vestibule entrance to increase school safety, as well as internally locking doors in every classroom.
- The gymnasium includes a full-sized basketball court.
- The new cafeteria and library are designed to maximize natural light. The new music room is built on the stage, with a movable wall that allows performances with audiences seated in the gymnasium.
- New EGES campus can hold 550 students.
North Gresham Elementary
- This building replaces the old North Gresham campus, which was first built in 1960.
- The new building has 75,000 square feet and 31 new classrooms, each with a 65- inch interactive flat panel touch screen for a modern education.
- Modern secure vestibule entrance and internally locking doors in every classroom to increase school safety.
- The gymnasium includes a full-sized basketball court.
- The new cafeteria and library are designed to maximize natural light. The new music room is built on the stage, with a movable wall that allows performances with audiences seated in the gymnasium.
- North Gresham alum and architect of the new campus, Renee Alexander, designed for a capacity of up to 550 students.
Gresham High School
- 85% of the entire building rebuilt; full campus now meets modern safety standards.
- 53 new classrooms opened in September 2019.
- 8 STEM/science classrooms, new autobody shop.
- New auditorium, band room, choir room, and a black box theater.
- New gymnasium, women’s locker room, weight room, media center, teachers’ lounge, vestibule.
- New parking lot, school bus turning circle, trash and recycling areas.
- Historic muses, sages, sentinels from the front of old Gresham High School preserved, installed in interior courtyard.
Sam Barlow High School
- Complete renovation completed September 2020
- 70% of the entire building rebuilt and or remodeled.
- New auditorium, 8 new science classrooms, new art classroom, special ed classrooms, renovated courtyard.
- Sam Barlow received 20 new classrooms – 12 general purpose, 6 general science, 2 chemistry classrooms.
- Substantial renovations to 35 existing classrooms.
- Major renovations to woods and metals shops and created accessible CTE classroom spaces.
- New redesigned parking lot, added school bus lane with new drop-off/pickup area with separation from auto traffic, trash and recycling areas
- New stadium field opened with new turf, 1,500 seats, new restrooms, concessions and ticket booth.