Banners and cheers greeted pupils on January 7 as they returned to historic Jackson and Roosevelt Elementary Schools for the first time in more than two years.

The schools are fresh from a $26 million upgrade, financed by a bond measure that local voters approved in 2006. During the renovation project, pupils and teachers were housed at other campuses in the Medford School District.

What the pupils found on their return are state-of-the-art learning environments. Building-wide internet access, smart boards in every classroom and expanded computer labs will enhance access to information for both pupils and teachers. Common areas next to classrooms will provide the flexible learning spaces that teachers requested during the design phase of the project.

Both schools are now fully air-conditioned and fully accessible to the disabled. Mechanical and electrical systems are designed for efficiency, and increased use of day-lighting will reduce energy costs. Fire protection and seismic safety components meet the highest standards. Building components, from the exterior bricks to the floors in the classrooms are of durable materials, to reduce maintenance and lower replacement costs.

Combined, the two schools now provide 106,000 square feet of learning and activity space. Each school offers 18 teaching stations, a library-media center of approximately 4,500 square feet, a dining hall of about 3,000 square feet and a gymnasium covering about 4,800 square feet.

And both buildings are designed to honor their ties to previous generations. Wooden flooring from the original 1911 Jackson and Roosevelt Schools now anchors the new commons area in each building.

A team of Opsis Architecture of Portland and Abell Architectural Group of Medford designed the renovation of the schools. Batzer Construction of Medford was the lead contractor, and Steve Ennis, Architect, of Medford was the project manager at both campuses.

Reopening the schools marks a major step forward for the 2006 bond measure. When completed in the fall, $189 million in bond projects will have brought every district school up to the same high standard of durability, efficiency and learning enhancement. We are grateful for the continuing support that the community provides for our schools.