Keizertimes., June 11, 2021, Page 13, Image 13

JUNE 11, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A13
Kennedy breaks ground on renovations
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
After three years of waiting, Kennedy
Elementary will undergo construction for
their expansion this summer as part of the
2018 bond program.
An offi cial groundbreaking ceremony,
featuring school board members, local offi -
cials, school staff and community support-
ers, was held on Friday, June 4, to kick off
the beginning of the expansion.
“As we kick off construction that will
add much needed space and improve the
learning environments here at Kennedy, I
am thankful for, and proud to be a part of a
community that cares so much for its stu-
dents,” said Salem-Keizer Public Schools
(SKPS) Superintendent Christy Perry.
“Thanks to the support of our commu-
nity, we are able to implement substantial
changes to our district that will help rein-
force the ultimate goal of preparing all stu-
dents for a successful life after graduation.”
Kennedy, which was originally con-
structed in 1964, will be receiving seven
new general education classrooms, mean-
ing that the outdoor portable classrooms
will be removed.
“All fi ve of these ugly portables are
going to be gone. No more putting on win-
ter coats just to go to P.E and music. No
more walking in the rain to get into the
school from the portables, maybe just to
use the restroom or to visit the offi ce. And
most importantly, no more separation from
our main facility. We will all be connected,”
Feel -Good
STORY
Saluting the people that make
us proud of our community
presented by
Kennedy students Jadiel Lopez (left), Abigail Ceja (second to left) and Madison Adair (right)
join principal Jesse Leonard in breaking ground on construction at the school.
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes
Kennedy principal Jesse Leonard said. “I
know I speak on behalf of the whole staff
when I say thank you. It really means a
new beginning for us, for our community,
for our school, and most importantly for
our kids.”
Along with relieving overcrowd-
ing, the project also includes a new caf-
eteria and kitchen, as well as current
classroom improvements, heating/ven-
tilation improvements, roofi ng replace-
ment, seismic upgrades and many other
improvements.
The plan is to also renovate the current
cafeteria into a multipurpose space and
relocate the playground and covered play
structure.
“Thank you for supporting our students,
this district and this bond,” said Danielle
Bethell, the co-chair of the Salem-Keizer
School Board.
Robinson Construction will be taking
on the $12.2 million project — the bond is
worth $619.7 billion and is the largest in
state history.
Construction will begin this month
and is scheduled to be substantially com-
pleted in the early fall of 2022.
“Kennedy is very special and this
whole community has been working hard
and I am so excited,” Keizer city coun-
cilor Roland Herrera said. “This has been
great work that the school board has been
doing with the bond money and I think it
was well worth it. It is an investment in
our community.”
For more information on the status of
bond projects around the district, visit
the SKPS website (salkeiz.k12.or.us).