Area schools are going to need more classrooms soon, Sequim schools superintendent Kelly Shea told the district’s board of directors this week.
On Monday evening, Shea asked the board to consider a construction bond about one-third the size of the $154 million proposal voters rejected in April.
Shea’s proposal sketched out a $46 million plan that would fund construction of a new elementary school, add four classrooms, a serving kitchen and a gymnasium at Greywolf Elementary School, add six science classrooms, a band room and choir room at Sequim High School and pay for demolition of unused portions of Sequim Community School.
It was the first look at a revamped construction bond plan for Sequim’s five-member board of directors, who have to approve some version of a construction bond proposal and send it to the Clallam County elections office for voter consideration. That could come as early as February of 2015, Shea said.
In developing the newest bond proposal — one he expects board directors to consider in coming weeks and months — Shea said providing more classrooms for students was essential.
“We know that all-day kindergarten is coming,” Shea said. He added that state Initiative 1351, an initiative that mandates maximum student-to-teacher ratios of 17:1 would require Sequim build 14 additional classrooms, just for grades 1-3.
Additionally, he said, Sequim’s district relies too much on portable classrooms that were designed to be temporary.
Elementary issues
Shea asked the board to consider three options regarding Helen Haller Elementary School, home to 611 students this fall: to renovate the current school, tear down the current one and build on the same location or build a new school on a different piece of property east of downtown Sequim.
Shea recommended building east of town and leaving the current elementary school standing.
Leaving the Helen Haller building standing would give Sequim a kind of “open chair” to house students while construction occurs on other campuses and/or eventually turn the building into a kindergarten center or intermediate (grades 4-5) school, Shea said.
“We believe the current Helen Haller Elementary can serve a purpose,” he said.
Greywolf would get four new classrooms and a full-sized gymnasium; the school’s multi-purpose room is at capacity now, Shea said, and would be overbooked with the influx of all-day kindergarten students in the near future.
At the high school, community school
With new state high school science requirements for students, Sequim High will need additional classroom space and to refurbish antiquated current science labs, Shea said.
“Our science labs are below standard; they need an upgrade,” he said.
Shea’s initial proposal also calls for an extension of the Performing Arts Center to include a band and choir room. Sequim High band and choir students use rooms at the Sequim Community School across Fir Street. Adding the music rooms at the main campus, Shea said, would help improve safety and cut down on time students are spending getting to those rooms.
Shea’s proposal also calls for the demolition of part of the community school earmarked for demolition for several years. A portion of the building built in the 1970s is being used by Olympic Peninsula Academy and wouldn’t be torn down, the superintendent said.
Additional needs
Shea’s Monday evening proposal didn’t include a number of items featured in April’s plan, most notably a major renovation to Sequim High School, and athletic field, a district base kitchen and renovation to the Sequim Middle School roof.
Shea asked the board to consider what they’d like to add or take away from his proposal.
“Two different (advisory) groups under two different superintendents came up with similar lists,” Shea said. “Those needs have not gone away. We are going to have to continue to pursue those in a second phase or a third phase.”
Shea also asked the board to consider transforming the old community school gymnasium into a maintenance and warehouse building.
Minimize, prioritize
Shea said he gathered numerous opinions about what the district should propose next via several “coffee chats” this summer.
“My intent was to reach out to those folks … who were in opposition to our school bond,” he said, adding he also talked with bond supporters whom he hadn’t connected with in the first bond campaign.
Though he received varying views about the district’s plan, Shea said three things were clear about April’s bond proposal failure: it was too much to ask for, it had too many projects and not enough clearly defined priorities.
“Now we have something to talk about, something that’s far more palatable,” school board director Mike Howe said.
Tax impact
Brian Lewis, the school district’s business manager, presented two scenarios if voters approved a school construction bond in 2015: one in the $50 million range and another for $60 million.
In 2015, Lewis said, taxpayers in the Sequim School District will pay about $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed valuation — or about $160 for a $100,000 home. If a $50 million construction bond passed that year, he said, property owners would see that rate rise to $2.24 per $1,000; with a $60 million bond plan, taxpayers would pay about $2.41 per $1,000 or assessed valuation.
Looking ahead
The Sequim School Board’s next regular meeting at scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6. See www.sequim.k12.wa.us.
Sequim schools superintendent
Shea’s Sept. 22 bond proposal
New elementary school $27.8 million
Greywolf additions $ 7.2 million
Sequim High additions $11.0 million
Community school demo $ 0.7 million
Total $46.7 million
(Figures rounded)
Reach Michael Dashiell at editor@sequimgazette.com.
