During the June 24th School Board meeting, Hilary Martinez of the long-range facilities planning team presented a proposal to enhance learning environments at seven schools and construct a new Wenatchee High School. To fund these initiatives, the committee suggests a bond measure.

This recommendation follows 15 months of comprehensive data collection, evaluation, and study of the district's aging facilities. The proposal includes a detailed facilities master plan that outlines the functional adequacy and capacity of all district school facilities.

The committee's primary objective was to make data-driven decisions that aimed to improve learning spaces within the district. The plan for the new high school involves building it on the existing WHS site, allowing students to continue their education in the current building during construction. The projected cost for the high school is $314,508,881, while HVAC improvements at seven elementary and middle schools are estimated at $58,367,019, totaling $372,875,900. With an estimated $79 million in state match eligibility (approximately 25% of the total project cost), the overall cost could be reduced to $293,875,900. The estimated tax rate for taxpayers would be a flat $1.48 over 15 years.

The school board's next critical step is to thoroughly review these recommendations and determine the most suitable course of action for our community. A workshop is scheduled for August or September to provide the board with an in-depth understanding of the data.