HHS Adding Modular Classrooms Over Spring Break

Hermiston School District will set three, two-classroom modular buildings at Hermiston High School over spring break, in March, to accommodate student growth needs.

In an effort to minimize parking impacts, bus access, and student safety concerns, the six temporary classrooms will be placed along the north side of the median between the front HHS parking lot and the Weber Field parking lot. The buildings are expected to impact 21 parking spaces in the Weber lot.

The eight bus routes that historically utilized this location will be assigned to the current bus loop in front of the school. To accommodate the additional traffic in the bus loop, traffic patterns within the lots will be rerouted to ensure student safety and accommodate added vehicles. All buses will enter in the northern First St. entrance and exit out the southern First St. driveway. The district asks parents dropping off students to enter from Highland Ave. and either drop students off in front of the school (exiting out the southern First St. exit) or on the southern side of the high school along Highland Ave. (exiting out the western Highland Ave. exit).

Concurrent with the traffic flow changes, parking spaces will be formally identified for students and staff. Students may park in the Weber Field lot, the southern lot in front of the building, and along Highland Ave. The northern lot in front of the school will be staff only parking, by permit adhered to the window. Consolidation of staff to this lot is best conducive to the bus schedule, as staff arrive before and leave after the bus traffic.

“The district is experiencing record student growth, and modular facilities are necessary to accommodate the added students,” said Executive Director of Operations Mike Kay. “We realize the impact the buildings will have on parking, and appreciate the patience and flexibility of our students, staff and community.”

HSD chose to set the modular buildings in March, rather than during summer break, to avoid additional construction impacts on high school graduation, as well as Umatilla County Fair and Farm City Pro Rodeo.