Portland, Oregon, September 12, 2025
News Summary
The Portland Public Schools board voted 6-1 to expand a contract with Texas-based construction manager Procedeo, approving an additional $487,500 to accelerate planning and work on a new Jefferson High School. The payment is authorized through the end of December and builds on a prior $149,500 engagement, bringing total authorized spending to $637,000. Procedeo delivered a brief page-and-a-half report reviewing past troubles and offering broad recommendations. District employees who led multi-year high school modernizations objected to outsourcing, saying the short report lacked detail. Officials must now decide how to use the contracted hours and whether further study or redesign is needed.
Portland Public Schools Board Expands Contract with Texas Firm to Speed New Jefferson High School
Board votes 6-1 to add $487,500 to existing agreement with Procedeo
Members of the Portland Public Schools board voted 6-1 to expand the district’s contract with a Texas-based construction management firm, adding $487,500 to accelerate work on a planned new Jefferson High School. The vote authorizes the additional funds to be paid between now and the end of December and came over public objections from district employees.
The firm named in the expanded contract is Procedeo. The new payment of $487,500 is in addition to a prior payment of $149,500 that the district agreed to in June for quicker, less costly planning options for the Jefferson project. The full Jefferson program is described as a $465 million project.
Why the board moved now
Six board members said they backed the contract expansion to follow the superintendent’s direction to move quickly on the Jefferson High School replacement. The board’s action came despite visible public opposition from district employees who have been working for years on modernization efforts that cover all nine district high schools.
What Procedeo provided so far
In the earlier, smaller agreement made in June, the Texas firm spent two months preparing materials. The results delivered to the district were summarized in about a page-and-a-half, outlining the troubled history of the Jefferson project and offering broad suggestions for how to proceed more efficiently. The follow-up payment is intended to secure more direct planning and management help during the next several months.
Context and controversy
The board vote was held amid tensions between district leadership and staff. District employees publicly questioned hiring an outside firm and expanding the contract at this stage, noting their own long-term work on high school modernization. Supporters on the board framed the move as a way to speed delivery and limit additional cost growth on a large and complex program.
Payment timing and scope
The additional $487,500 is specifically authorized to be spent through the end of December. Combined with the earlier $149,500, the district will have committed just under $637,000 to Procedeo in the near term to assist with planning, scheduling, and construction management strategies aimed at keeping the Jefferson project moving.
Background on the Jefferson project
The Jefferson High School replacement is part of a broader effort to modernize the district’s high schools. The plan has been characterized as a $465 million undertaking and has faced delays and budget pressures that the district and outside advisors are trying to address.
Notes on reporting and site statements
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What happens next
The expanded work with Procedeo is scheduled to take place over the coming months up to the end of December, with the goal of producing more detailed plans and schedules to keep the Jefferson project on track. The district may continue to face questions from staff and the public about the costs and benefits of outsourcing this phase of work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the board vote?
The Portland Public Schools board voted 6-1 to expand a contract with Procedeo and add $487,500 to accelerate the Jefferson High School project.
Who is Procedeo and why were they hired?
Procedeo is a Texas-based construction management firm. The district hired them to develop quicker, less costly plans and to provide construction management support for the Jefferson High School replacement effort.
How much has been paid or authorized so far?
The district initially agreed to pay $149,500 in June and has now authorized an additional $487,500, for a near-term total of $637,000 committed to the firm.
When will the additional funds be used?
The additional $487,500 is authorized to be spent between now and the end of December.
Were there objections to expanding the contract?
Yes. District employees publicly objected to hiring and expanding the outside contract. Those employees have worked for years on modernization plans for all nine district high schools.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Board vote | 6-1 |
| Firm | Procedeo (Texas-based) |
| Additional payment authorized | $487,500 |
| Previously paid | $149,500 |
| Near-term total committed | $637,000 |
| Project value | $465 million (Jefferson High School) |
| Payment window for additional funds | Now through end of December |
| Staff reaction | Public objections from district employees |
| Document delivered earlier | Page-and-a-half summary of project history and broad recommendations |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- OregonLive: Despite concerns — Portland school board approves $487K contract extension with Texas firm
- Wikipedia: Jefferson High School (Portland) — search
- OregonLive: After Texas construction oversight firm delivers 2-page report for $149K, Portland Public Schools weighs paying it $487K more
- Google Search: Portland Public Schools Jefferson High Procedeo
- OPB: Search results — Jefferson High School Portland
- Google Scholar: school construction project management outsourcing
- Willamette Week: Search results — Jefferson High School Portland
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: school construction Portland — search
- Portland Tribune / Pamplin Media: Search — Jefferson High School Portland
- Google News: Jefferson High School Portland
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