Umpqua Bank has donated the site of its former branch in Winlock to the Winlock School District. The district said it will provide much-needed space for its administrative offices.
The former site of the Umpqua Bank branch in Winlock is getting new life as the home of the Winlock School District’s administrative offices — a much-needed addition for the district’s space-squeezed operations.
In March, the bank closed its operations at the 2,000 square foot building, where it had operated since 2014 — following Umpqua’s acquisition of Sterling Bank. Since the closure, Umpqua has been looking for a way to put the building to community use, said Kurt Heath, the bank’s external communications manager.
“When we have a facility, we’re really working with local communities and stakeholders to identify ways we can donate the building to benefit the community,” he said.
When Winlock superintendent Dr. Richard Serns heard the bank was looking to donate the building, he reached out and told Umpqua the district had a need.
“I called them up and asked if we could be on the list to be considered, and they said sure,” he said.
The building ownership was officially transferred on May 24. According to Serns, the facility will fill a major need for the district. Winlock’s current district offices are located next to the elementary school, which is “right near capacity” as enrollment has jumped by 8 percent in the past two years.
Moving the administrative operations a few blocks away to the old Umpqua building will allow the district to use the old offices as additional classroom space or for specialized activities such as music.
Meanwhile, the new administrative office appears well-suited to host the district’s operations.
“We’re in the process of looking at it to slightly remodel it to meet our needs there, but it will be a great asset,” Serns said. “It’s ideal in a lot of ways. It meets our needs as far as space, but it’s also a more professional-looking building.”
Four employees currently work in the district’s administrative office, and the school is currently working out the new floorplan and meeting space for the team.
Heath said Umpqua Bank is happy to see its building find new use in a way that benefits Winlock.
“We were communicating with local leaders and looking for the best options, what the greatest needs were in the community,” he said. “(The school district) saw they had a real need. Space was an issue. They were looking for a way to find some new space. This was a way they could do it without cost.”
The bank will still maintain its ATM at the site, and it says a community relationship officer is available by appointment to advise customers and provide assistance.
