Chain link fencing went up around the Sequim Community School last week, and district administration officials say the school is preparing for the next phase of the abatement process to demolish the unused portions of the school and move the Central Kitchen to the northwest corner.

Sequim Schools Superintendent Gary Neal said debris has been removed from some parts of the Community School on the west side as well as trees and now the conversations are getting started for the project’s next steps.

“We wanted to get fencing up for removing the trees to start letting the public be aware that there’s going to be some construction going on here,” Neal said.

He said the fence serves as a 10-20 foot buffer from the building to create a safer environment for those accessing the recreational area on the west side of the building, including a playground and pickleball courts.

Neal said pedestrians along Alder and Fir Streets won’t be affected in those walkways.

District officials previously said that they tentatively plan to have the new kitchen in place before the new school year.

For more information about the school district’s capital projects, see sequimschools.org/.