Facility Planning Committee Tours Wenatchee High School

The Phase 2 Facility Planning Committee toured Wenatchee High School April 13 to see first-hand the condition and capacity of the school.

The 18-member committee is made up of 14 community members and/or parents, 2 high school students, and 18 schoolteachers, administrators, and union representatives. The committee is meeting regularly March through June, and has been charged by the School Board with the task of evaluating facility issues at Wenatchee High School, as well as studying district-wide issues, including building use and capacity, future student growth, school safety, and grade configuration alternatives.

The “Phase 2” in the committee name refers to the two phases of district capital improvement projects. Phase 1 addressed needs at Lincoln Elementary, Washington Elementary, the Special Education and Early Childhood Learning Center, Pioneer Middle School gymnasium and bleachers, and Mission View Elementary parking lot. Those capital improvement projects were paid for by the issuing of a $66.5 bond approved by the voters in April 2014. At the time a Phase 2 project was anticipated to address needs at Wenatchee High School and other district facilities needs.

Thanks to all the committee members for putting in the time and hard work to study facilities need in the district, and come up with a recommendation.

Here’s a detailed list of what issues the committee has been tasked with. They’ll report back to the School Board in June 2016.

Wenatchee High School: Student Overcrowding: facility design that supports varied personalized learning experiences expanding program options and enrollment at WestSide High School and Wenatchee Valley Technical Skills Center.

Specifically, the Citizens' Phase 2 Facility Planning Committee is asked to:

1. Review, assess, and project short and long-term space needs district-wide

2. Prioritize grade configuration alternatives

3. Address Wenatchee High School's large student population, building capacity limits, and outdated infrastructure

4. Address the High School Athletic Facilities modernization and improvements as alternative projects should funds become available.

5. Address Foothills Middle School HVAC and plumbing and building envelopes for Mission View, Lewis and Clark, and Columbia Elementary Schools

6. School Safety and bus/parent pickup/drop off lanes at schools

7. Future land acquisitions

8. Consider alternative school schedules & calendar including the possibility of year-round school to address overcrowding.