The Medford School Board declared the collapsed North Medford High School gym an “emergency” during a February 25 special meeting, allowing expedited repairs without standard bidding protocols.
The gym’s roof collapsed on February 11, just days after a crack was reported during a sports practice on February 7. Despite a $3 million seismic retrofitting project completed in summer 2024, the 1960s-era structure failed catastrophically, destroying bleachers and memorabilia.
The resolution authorizes Superintendent Bret Champion and COO Brad Earl to bypass typical procurement rules to stabilize the site quickly.
At this point the engineers suggest the external walls could be salvaged with reinforcement.