The Brave Experience

At this month’s school board meeting, we celebrated the girls track and field team. In late May, they finished in 2nd place at the OSAA 3A State Track Meet at Hayward Field and were only one point away from being state champions. We are very proud of the team!

The Banks High School community will be celebrating a “Journey through Time” for Homecoming Week during Oct. 6-11. Students and staff will be dressing up and participating in various activities throughout the week. Events culminate in a Homecoming Parade on Friday, Oct. 10 at 2:30pm, followed by the football game vs. Kennedy at 7pm, and the homecoming dance in the barn on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Creating a safe learning environment is a critical part of helping each child achieve academic success. Banks School District has partnered with SafeOregon, a statewide school safety tip line that gives kids, parents, schools, and their communities a way to report safety threats or potential acts of violence anonymously or confidentially. Individuals can submit a tip through SafeOregon online, via email at tip@safeoregon.com, or by texting or calling 844-474-3367. Together, we’ll empower people to speak out, spark change, and save lives.

The Banks City Council will join the Banks School Board for a collaborative public work session at Banks Middle School on October 13. Both Superintendent Brian Sica and City Manager Jolynn Becker will present reports with questions and discussion to follow. The public is invited to attend. Please note there will be no public comment opportunity for this meeting.

Once again, thank you to voters for approving our $49 million construction bond to provide improvements to Banks School District facilities. With the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) grant, we have a total of $55 million to complete the following projects:

• Banks High School Addition

• Campus-wide traffic flow improvements

• Locker room modernization

• Auxiliary gym addition

• Safety and security

• Elementary and middle school HVAC and roof repair

We’re working with partners Cornerstone Management Group, BRIC Architecture, and P&C Construction to steward these funds well and complete projects on time. Presently, the projects are tracking within the budget, and contingencies are in place for unforeseen conditions and other changes that may arise during the course of construction.

Aux Gym

We now have an updated design of the Auxiliary Gym, which includes enhanced siding with some colored panels, a revised window design, and the option for signage on the north or east side of the building for identification purposes. Additionally, the base of the gym wall system has been changed to be concrete masonry block, which will match what is being designed at the Banks High School addition.

In-Kind Work

P&C Construction serves as the main point of contact for contractors or vendors in the community who are interested in contributing in-kind work to these bond projects. If you have leads or referrals for this type of work, please contact Brian Sica at the Superintendent’s Office at brians@banks.k12.or.us or 503-324-8591.

• We are planning to host a Community Meeting to provide information and answer questions on all things bond-related. The date is coming soon!

• The Banks High School addition design will be complete in mid-September with early demolition and construction beginning in January 2026.

• The aux gym design is in the review process, and early grading work is expected to begin in the late fall, with construction starting in January. The gym is expected to be ready by Late Fall/Early Winter 2026!

• For the Banks Creek culvert repairs, we have completed surveying and held site meetings with consultants and agencies. Our teams are working on a proposal for design and permitting with culvert repairs planned for summer 2026.

For more information and the latest on everything bond-related, please take a look at our bond web page.

“The Brave Experience,” besides being the title of this newsletter, is a mantra we use as we strive for educational excellence. The Banks School District strives to ensure that ALL students have a school experience that makes them happy and proud. That is the BRAVE EXPERIENCE.

View the Banks School District 2025-2026 calendar here.

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