SEQUIM — Sequim School Board directors have agreed to a $775,000 capital project fund budget extension for the 2017-18 school year, helping to complete an overhaul of the district kitchen.
Directors unanimously approved the increase Monday following a public hearing.
The district has changed the scope of its project at the Sequim Community School. Along with demolishing unused portions of the school, the original plan was to renovate the central kitchen.
Instead, plans are for an entire redesign of the kitchen — one that will increase costs that near the amount voters approved last year.
In August 2017, the district approved a bond resolution to use $3.5 million of non-voted debt to pay for its capital projects up front and pay back the debt with its capital project levy that will generate $5.75 million over three years.
Second bond approved
In April, the board approved a second bond resolution to use an additional $2,295,000 of non-voted debt to spend on the redesign of the central kitchen.
Steve McIntire, interim director of operations and finance for the district, said the district cannot finish the project unless the board gives permission to spend more money.
McIntire said because the scope of the project changed from its original design and location of the central kitchen the total cost of expenditures would amount to about $5.5 million by the end of November.
“All we did last night was to get the board to say it’s OK to spend money that is reflected in the additional scope of work we had planned,” McIntire said.
Neal said because the district chose to move the central kitchen to the northwest corner and make it larger, some of these changes will require more money up front.
“Because [the kitchen] was connected to the community school, we were able to relocate it,” Neal said.
“What that was going to do was use more of the capital project levy that had initially been bought.”
This budget extension still falls within the $5.75 million that voters approved for the district’s capital project levy.
Portables on the way
School officials announced the district is in the process of purchasing four to five portables to house Olympic Peninsula Academy (OPA) during the demolition of the Sequim Community School that tentatively will happen by November of this year.
Neal announced the district is in negotiations with Port Townsend School District to purchase these portables and is hoping to have them moved potentially by the end of the month.
He said three of the portables might be located on Fir Street close to Alder and two could be placed near the parking areas next to district’s band and choir building.
McIntire said if the district purchases five portables it would cost $48,000.
There is one portable that may not be purchased due to its poor condition and if the district only purchases four portables it would cost $40,000.
The district allotted funds in its capital projects to pay for these portables to house OPA, McIntire added.
Other board action
The district also received a grant of $111,550 on May 14 to improve access to computer science and related educational programs.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction matched $55,775 that was donated to the district from Batelle, operator of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which contributed $50,000, the Sequim Education Foundation who gave $3,000 and the Sequim Sunrise Rotary which donated $2,775.
Neal said the grant would be used to offer an advanced placement computer science class at Sequim High School.
“The intention is we will be operating [the class] by next fall,” Neal said.
“The biggest thing for me is that our kids are going to have an equal playing field with kids around the world.”
The money also will be used to acquire curriculum for a K-12 computer science pathway and to deliver professional development for all certified staff in the district.
The next regular school board meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday, June 4, at Greywolf Elementary School library, 171 Carlsborg Road.
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Erin Hawkins is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at ehawkins@sequimgazette.com.
