Small Oregon School District Reimagines Learning for the Next Generation  

In the heart of Oregon’s Pacific Coastal Mountain Range, Clatskanie School District (CSD) faced aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance across its campus. With a bold vision and strong community support, the district partnered with McKinstry to assess facility needs, secure funding and deliver a multi-phase modernization effort. The result: safer, more efficient and inspiring spaces for students, staff and the broader community. 

Before any construction started, Clatskanie School District took a critical first step: understanding the full scope of its facility needs. In 2019, the district partnered with McKinstry to conduct a Facility Conditions Assessment (FCA) across its campus. The goal was to evaluate the current state of buildings and plan for improvements through 2030. For a small district with limited internal facilities expertise, this was a vital move. The FCA provided a comprehensive snapshot of building systems, deferred maintenance and modernization needs. To ensure the plan reflected local priorities, McKinstry facilitated community input meetings, inviting families, educators and residents to share perspectives. This inclusive process culminated in the finalization of the long-range facility plan in early 2020. The Oregon Technical Assistance Program (TAP) Grant funded both the FCA and long-range plan, demonstrating the district’s resourcefulness in leveraging state support to drive local impact.  

With a clear understanding of its needs and a roadmap in hand, CSD was ready to take the next step in securing a bond and launching the transformation of its schools. 

With a plan in place, the next step was funding. McKinstry continued to support the district, meeting regularly with the school board and bond committee to identify the right scope of work and determine the bond amount needed to bring the vision to life. McKinstry also helped the district secure a $4 million grant from Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Grant, significantly boosting its financial capacity. 

Pending voter approval of a $10 million bond, the district selected McKinstry in early 2021 as its partner for the planned work. In May, the community responded with overwhelming support, paving the way for the work to go through across three major project phases. 

Location:

Clatskanie, OR

Square Footage

193,000 square ffeet

Number of Buildings

3

Market

K-12 Education

Services Provided

Facility Conditions Assessments

Long-Range Facility Planning

Bond Planning

Architectural & Design Engineering

Architectural Metals

Commissioning

Construction Management

Electrical

Energy Based Retrofit

Fire Protection

Low Voltage

Material Procurement

Mechanical

Occupant Training

Utility Rebate Coordination

Phase One: Urgency Meets Ingenuity

The first phase began with plans to retrofit HVAC systems and repair roofing at the middle/high school. As discussions unfolded, the district began experiencing water leaks from aging variable air volume (VAV) boxes and a failure of the control system. In just three months, McKinstry helped CSD pivot, replacing more than 70 hot water VAV boxes, upgrading piping and installing a new control system during the district’s winter break. The new direct digital control (DDC) system allows facilities personnel to remotely monitor and troubleshoot issues and receive alerts when systems are not operating as desired. During part of the work in the auditorium, McKinstry engineers identified VAV boxes that were difficult to access. To enhance safety, crews designed and installed a custom access platform — an added benefit for the district so it could easily maintain the boxes in the future. The work was fast-paced and highly coordinated, with control subcontractors working in lockstep behind mechanical crews.

Phase Two: Modernization and Safety

The second phase of the project brought significant improvements across the district, including roofing upgrades and a complete renovation of the middle/high school’s main office. Walls were moved, plumbing and electrical systems reconfigured, and new bathroom and storefront windows were added. This transformed the once-cramped space into a bright and functional area. As security is a top priority, new access control systems were implemented at both the middle/high school and elementary school to ensure student and staff safety.

The middle/high school underwent extensive renovations, starting with the addition of windows to the main office for better visibility into the parking lot and the creation of a secure vestibule to limit building access. The obsolete fire alarm system was upgraded to a modern addressable system and the 2nd-floor commons area was remodeled to foster a collaborative learning environment. Deferred maintenance items were addressed, including the replacement of rooftop HVAC equipment, locker room water heaters and boiler hot water circulation pumps with variable frequency drives. During the design stage, a flaw in the original construction of the rooftop greenhouse area, which had been the cause of water leaks beneath the roofing system, was identified. The entire membrane roof was restored and the wall to the greenhouse area was rebuilt for proper flashing. Asbestos abatement was carried out on the 2nd floor subflooring, followed by the installation of new subflooring and VCG floor coverings.

At Clatskanie Elementary, updates included creating a secure entry, replacing the roof with a new asphalt shingle system and upgrading the outdated intercom system. Special provisions were made to protect against water buildup where the original roof meets the addition. McKinstry also restored the low slope area of the Bus Barn roof and installed new asphalt shingles on the remaining roof.

Phase Three: The Finishing Touches

In the third and final phase, crews transformed several classrooms, remodeled restrooms with floor-to-ceiling privacy stalls and upgraded all fixtures and finishes. McKinstry redesigned the parking lot, creating separate parent drop-off and bus lanes for middle and high school students, and added ADA-compliant walkways. The entire facility was also painted and crews repaired the underside of one of the building’s roof overhang.

In small communities like Clatskanie, there often isn’t a dedicated facilities manager or construction expert on staff. That’s where McKinstry stepped in, not just as a contractor, but as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert. From bond planning to scope development, equipment selection and submittals, McKinstry walked alongside the district every step of the way, working to empower and inform them.

Clatskanie School District didn’t just upgrade its buildings—it redefined what’s possible for small communities with big goals. CSD proved that districts of any size can lead the way in creating safe, efficient and inspiring learning spaces. Thanks to thoughtful planning and a strong partnership, every phase of the project came in under budget. “Planning, coordinating, facilitating, scheduling, contractor selection, communication and even billing—everything McKinstry does has been top notch.” -Mark Bergthtold, Business Manager & Bond Project Manager, Clatskanie School District 

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