School district narrows possible fixes to projected overcrowding
November 19, 2009
By Dan Catchpole
District considering expanding high school and building new middle school.
Snoqualmie Valley schools have narrowed down the possible solutions to the district’s forecasted overcrowding but haven’t settled on a final option yet.
The district’s Long-Term Facility Planning Committee recommended two of five options at the school board’s Nov. 12th meeting. It will now further consider the two choices before sending its preference to the board in February.The committee will now take a closer look at two options – expanding Mount Si High School, and turning Snoqualmie Middle School into a satellite campus for the high school and building a new middle school. It rejected three other options – using modular classrooms, expanding elementary schools and adopting a junior high model.
It considered a range of criteria, from effect on students to geographic, financial and political realities.
The two options still on the table keep a single high school, and address the projected growth at its source—the high school, could be ready by 2014 and retain the current grade configuration, assistant superintendent and committee chairman Don McConkey said.
However, there would likely be some school boundary reconfiguration, he added.
The two options are also the most expensive of the five. The satellite model has an estimated cost between $11 million for modular classrooms at middle schools and $55 million for a new middle school. Renovating the high school’s estimated cost is between $99 million and $104 million.
To be ready by 2014—when student enrollment is projected to surpass capacity—a bond would have to be passed by voters in 2011, according to the committee. However, the student population could exceed capacity as early as 2012.
“Our (projected) enrollment growth is slowing, but it’s still growing,” McConkey said.
In the satellite model, a new middle school would be built possibly on Snoqualmie Ridge, where the district owns the necessary land for a single-story school.
Board members are mindful of the need for community support for whichever option they choose to send to voters as a bond issue.
“Neither of these options are free,” said Dan Popp, one of the board’s liaisons to the committee.
David Spring, director of the Fair School Funding Coalition, is questioning the wisdom of creating a “mega high school.”
In both options still being considered, Mount Si’s population would be near 2,500, based on current population projections. Some of these students would be at SMS in the satellite model.
Spring disputes some of the district’s cost estimations, saying that a single, larger high school would be more expensive than what the committee claims.
Instead of putting money into Mount Si, he supports building a second, high-tech high school.
However, Mount Si would still require renovation, according to district officials.
Dan Catchpole: 425-392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com.
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
