Architecture firm chosen for bond work

The Sisters School Board approved BBT Architects Inc. to lead the design of construction work authorized by passage of last spring's school bond.

Board vice chair Amanda Clark and directors Don Hedrick and Greg Zadow voted in favor during the Wednesday, November 2, school board meeting. Directors Stephen King and Jeff Smith were absent.

The Bend company was chosen from five applicants based on its presentation and the quality of work it has done in Central Oregon, said Sisters School Superintendent Curt Scholl. He and Clark called the decision a clear choice.

Clark added it was "a great selection process." She joined Scholl, Project Manager Brett Hudson, Director of Operations Ryan Stock, and Citizens Oversight Committee member Jay Wilkins in the group that rated applicants.

Scholl said no financial cost has been set for BBT's work. Instead, he said that will be determined as bid packages for work at each school are discussed.

The first meeting of the Citizens Oversight Committee, a group tasked with bird-dogging design and expenses for the bond projects, has been set for Wednesday, November 16.

BBT Architects has a long history of public, private, and commercial building design projects in Central Oregon. Earlier this year, the firm was hired to design the new Work Skills Technology Center and Campus Central Facility Building on the campus of Klamath Community College in Klamath Falls. BBT also was picked this year to provide architectural services for the Athena-Weston School District in Athena, including upgrades to the elementary school, middle school, and high school.

Established in 1976, BBT Architects has a 17-member staff, including seven licensed architects.

In other business, the school board received updated enrollment figures showing there are 45 fewer students in the district than at the end of the 2015-16 school year. A total of 1,073 students were enrolled as of October 28.

Compared with the end of 2015-16, that was 21 fewer at the elementary school and 29 fewer at the high school.