Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Medford School Board has unanimously approved a plan to rebuild two aging elementary schools.  As Andrew Theen reports, the district was forced to close the schools in June for health and safety reasons.

Medford School District Superintendent Phil Long says the rebuild would've been impossible without a bond measure for school repairs that passed by a slim margin in 2006.

The district is allocating $24 million to rebuild both Roosevelt and Jackson Elementary Schools.

Cathy Gerlitz is the office manager at Roosevelt, and worked previously at Jackson.  She's thrilled with the decision.

Cathy Gerlitz: "Both communities, the west Medford area as well as the east Medford area, are really in need of a good, healthy, and safe environment for our kids to learn."

Both schools were built in 1911.  District Superintendent Long said crews will try to salvage some of the historic buildings.

Demolition could start in May, with kids returning to the schools in winter 2009.