Oregon Public Broadcasting

School board members from the state's largest school district took on what they called  the "sorry state" of  district buildings Monday night.  As Andrew Theen reports, board members said at their work session it's time to get serious about a recommended  overhaul.

Just last week a consultant's report  recommended rebuilding 10 K-8 schools that were essentially beyond repair.  The district-wide cost of renovating all the K-8 schools soars over a billion dollars

Cathy Mincberg  is the chief operating officer for Portland Public Schools.  She said the critical problems are district wide, like leaky roofs and windows.

Cathy Mincberg: "We need 22,000 windows to be replaced.  The windows were put in so long ago they leech the heat out of the buildings in the winter and sort of attract it in the warm weather. "

Superintendent Carole Smith told the board a plan for dealing with the high schools is in the works. She promised to  present that in community forums this May.