By David S. Mayne
A milestone was reached as Franklin students begin their final year at the 100-year old Franklin campus before it is completely transformed during an upcoming two-year modernization. Construction is set to begin this summer and exciting changes are ahead.
After a year of working with students, staff, parents and community members, Portland Public Schools Franklin Project Team created a design for the re-imagined high school.
The plan blends Franklin’s century old history with new, innovative facilities to prepare students to face the challenges of the future.
Highlights of the modernized school include:
• a new Fine and Performing Arts Center will be the beacon of the modernized campus.
• a dynamic, two-story entry commons provides students and the community a space to gather, work and learn.
• spaces for Career Pathways in STEM, Industrial Arts, Health Science/Biomedical, Culinary Arts, Law/Constitution & Early Childhood.
• realigning the track and field to accommodate new athletic and sports medicine facilities.
• repurposing the existing auditorium as the new Media Center to allow this majestic space to continue to serve the Franklin community.
For this year’s Freshman class, it is sure to be a memorable journey since they will be the last class that starts school at the old Franklin campus. They will then be the first senior class at the remodelled campus when it reopens in the fall of 2017 and the first class to graduate at the end of the 2017-2018 school year.
During the two-year construction period, Franklin students will move to Marshall High campus for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years. For the students, teachers and staff the buildings will be different but it will continue to be Franklin High School.
For those who are interested, tours of the remodeled Marshall campus will be offered in Spring 2015.
Further information about the project and dates of upcoming tours, visit the PPS Franklin Modernization website at www.FranklinBond.pps.net.
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