OREGON SCHOOLS STILL
AT RISK OF COLLAPSE
IN MEGA QUAKE
veyed, 12 percent had a very high risk of collapse, while
35 percent had a greater than 10-percent likelihood of col-
lapsing.
Courtney says he’s frustrated about the lack of response
he’s witnessed over making school buildings safe for chil-
dren, and he hopes this recent uptick in funding indicates a
If you hadn’t heard about the Cascadia Subduction
greater public interest in preparing for a large-scale quake.
Zone mega earthquake before now, the recent New Yorker
“I can’t believe parents are not out in droves saying,
article titled “The Really Big One” has probably popped
‘We are not going to permit our kids to go to these schools
up on your social media feed enough times to draw your
anymore until they are safe,’” he says.
attention.
In 2013, the Springfield School District applied for and
Some people have known for decades about the pre-
received a $255,549 grant from the Seismic Rehabilitation
dicted 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami
Grant Program for Walterville Elementary School, which
threatening to devastate the Oregon Coast and beyond.
was considered at very high risk of collapse.
Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney is one of those
According to Springfield Superintendent Sue Rieke-
people. He’s worked for years in the Oregon Legislature
Smith, other schools in Springfield were deemed at low
to fund seismic retrofitting for public school buildings to
risk of collapse. However, she says, “knowing that we
make them able to withstand large-scale quakes. Now it’s
have these additional dollars available, we will of course
up to school districts, including those in Lane County, to
be looking at opportunities for other improvements to our
apply for money and ensure that school buildings don’t
schools to make them even
collapse on top of students and
safer.”
teachers when the earthquake
Kerry Delf of Eugene
hits, he says.
School District 4J says that
Courtney says Oregon is
because 4J made seismic ad-
“way, way behind” in retrofit-
justments to school buildings
ting old school buildings, and
in the 1990s, the district is not
only 37 schools have received
planning to pursue grants and
grant money for seismic up-
will continue to make seis-
grades. Last year, state agency
mic improvements when other
Business Oregon received 46
maintenance occurs.
applications for grant money
Pat McGillivray, spokes-
but could only afford to award
— S E N AT E P R E S I D E N T P E T E R C O U R T N E Y
person for the Bethel School
$15 million to 13 school build-
District, says Bethel has not
ings across the state.
previously applied for seismic
This legislative session,
rehabilitation grants, but the
lawmakers set aside $175 mil-
district recently replaced its
lion to retrofit old school build-
two oldest elementary schools with new structures that are
ings in Oregon so that they are prepared to withstand a
built to current seismic codes.
high-magnitude earthquake. This money is disbursed
McGillivray says that parts of Willamette High School,
through the Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program, which
Shasta Middle School and Irving Elementary School were
started in 2009 but has only provided $15 million for
rated at high risk of collapse, while Bethel’s eight other
schools per session until this year.
schools fell into a range of low to moderate risk. He adds
“We’re finally getting the Legislature to pay attention,”
that Bethel will consider applying for grants, depending
Courtney says. “If the school districts will react to this, we
on the eligibility requirements and method of application.
can make these buildings safe for kids. I just can’t believe
“This is going to be the greatest natural disaster to hit
it’s taken this long.”
our state, and the children are probably more vulnerable to
In 2005, the Oregon Legislature commissioned the Or-
this than anything else imaginable,” Sen. Courtney says.
egon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries to
“Kids rely on us to make decisions for them. Today, the
survey Oregon public school buildings to determine their
children of Oregon are totally vulnerable because of what
risk of collapse in a high-magnitude earthquake.
the adults are not doing.” — Amy Schneider
The study found that of the 2,018 K-12 buildings sur-
‘I can’t believe parents are
not out in droves saying, “We
are not going to permit our
kids to go to these schools
anymore until they are safe.”’
Many Eugene downtown businesses will be open for
the first Sunday Streets celebration from noon to 4 pm
July 26. Streets will be blocked off from car traffic from the
Park Blocks to Kesey Square and all the way down
Broadway to Monroe Park. Participants can enjoy a relaxing
bike ride, skate or stroll through a cornucopia of food,
music, fitness classes and bike demos. New activities this
year include “Art on a Box” offering 20-minute open mic
sets from local artists, a dunk tank at Monroe Park and an
up-cycle T-shirt decorating competition sponsored by
MECCA and featuring Ariana Schultz, fashion designer and
instructor at LCC. To volunteer, call 501-0390 or email
sundaystreets@ci.eugene.or.us.
The Fertilab Thinkubator, which currently operates a
business incubator and co-working space in Eugene’s
Fermentation District, has opened the Start Up Center in
downtown Springfield. A grand opening was held July 10 at
the new business at 138 Main Street. The 1,800-square-
foot center will “foster an innovative entrepreneurial
economy by offering a place for people to learn about
entrepreneurship and connect with peers and mentors,”
say organizers. Jeff Sather is operations manger and board
member Jason Boone spoke at the opening gathering.
A unique feature at the Lane County Fair this weekend
is the Repair2ReUse Café, located on the fairway next to
the water tent. The booth encourages and offers tips on
how to repair items rather than discard them in order to
reduce waste and help people save the cost of replacing
items that can be repaired. Free advice, estimates and
instructions will focus on bicycles Friday, July 24, sewing
machines Saturday and hand tools Sunday. Repair2ReUse
is a waste prevention initiative of the Lane County Master
Recycler Program in partnership with local repair
professionals and community volunteers.
A group of Eugene-Springfield area manufacturing
companies are offering recent high-school graduates an
opportunity to launch a career. Currently there are more
than 90 unfilled entry-level positions across various
sectors of the local manufacturing industry, according to
Leigh Anne Hogue, who oversees Focus On Manufacturing,
a program of the Eugene Area Chamber of
Commerce. “Creating a pipeline of skilled labor is one of
the biggest challenges to growth for local manufacturers,”
she says. Hogue is the director of economic development
for the Eugene Chamber. “We are working to build that
pipeline by connecting employers with skilled workers.”
Download an application at wkly.ws/1tg or stop by the
Chamber offices at 1401 Willamette Street.
Encircle Films of Eugene is trying to raise money to
continue offering its documentary series. The group
creates “daring documentaries, expert speakers, engaging
discussions, inspiring local action on global issues.”
Information about Encircle and a link to the fundraising site
can be found at wkly.ws/21t. The documentaries are
hosted on first Thursdays by the Bijou Art Cinemas at 492
E. 13th Ave. The next screening will be at 6 pm, Sept. 17,
featuring Alive Inside.
eugeneweekly.com • July 23, 2015
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