Baker School District 5J 2021 Pre-Bond and Bond Program

Pre-Bond Services

In 2016, Wenaha Group began working with leaders of the ambitious and entrepreneurial Baker School District 5J to envision the District’s future through a comprehensive evaluation of all its facilities. We facilitated a Long Range Facilities Master Planning Committee to develop a bond proposal for the November 2018 ballot. Following the defeat of the 2018 bond measure, the district embarked on listening sessions with stakeholders. The Baker community voiced its preference for renovating existing facilities over new construction. In response, our team worked closely with the District and a Bond Recommendation Committee to analyze existing facilities in 2019 and 2020 to develop renovation options and cost estimates. The result was a voter-approved $15.5 million project, Baker’s first successful school facilities bond since 1948. Project funding was leveraged from multiple sources, including a $4 million general obligation bond, a $4 million OSCIM grant, and other grant funding.

Project Management Services

Wenaha Group continued to assist the district in the project management role following the bond election. The bond project scope included a new Cafeteria/Multi-Purpose building addition at Baker Middle School, HVAC and electrical upgrades at Brooklyn Primary School, HVAC upgrades and roof replacement at the Baker Early Learning Center, and district-wide safety and security upgrades. In addition, Wenaha Group managed the district’s two Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program projects by strategically aligning the seismic work with the bond work for fewer impacts on district operations. All construction was performed during the summer and/or on occupied sites, requiring extensive coordination and communication efforts.