Our Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee, a diverse group of community members, has spent 15 months rigorously analyzing our school building needs, and their data-driven consensus is clear: we must invest in our infrastructure for the benefit of all students and our entire community. This isn't about luxury; it's about necessity, addressing critical issues like aging HVAC systems causing costly emergency repairs and a high school building that is worn out, with critical systems having reached their end of life and no longer able to be repaired. By acting now, we can leverage approximately $79 million in state matching funds, significantly reducing the local taxpayer contribution for these vital projects. While we anticipate overall student enrollment to decrease in the coming years, it doesn't solve current overcrowding in key schools. This fiscally responsible plan, focusing on immediate needs and securing substantial state aid, ensures every tax dollar is maximized to provide safe, effective, and future-ready learning environments, ultimately protecting the value of our homes and the strength of our community for generations to come.

Committee Recommendation Board Presentation

Facilities Committee Board Report Video

Bond Website 

In 2018, the Wenatchee School District proposed a bond to address the aging and overcrowded Wenatchee High School. This was known as Phase 2 - Capital Bond for Wenatchee High School.

Capital Bond Cost: $120 million
Phase 1 Bond Carryover: $3 million
State Match: $31 million 

What the Bond Proposed

The core goal of the 2018 bond was to modernize Wenatchee High School, which was originally built in 1972. The plan included:

• A new 3-story addition to replace old, outdated classrooms.

• Extensive modernization of the existing school building.

• Replacement of outdated infrastructure, including electrical, HVAC, technology, and phone systems.

Why This Plan Was Chosen

A Citizen's Phase 2 Facility Planning Committee, made up of community volunteers and district staff, spent seven months studying different solutions for the high school. They considered many options, including building a second high school, but concluded that it was not financially feasible for the district's tax base. Ultimately, the committee recommended that the most cost-effective and responsible approach was to extensively remodel the current high school rather than build a new one.

The Issues at WHS

• Overcrowding: School build for 1,600, currently enrolls just over 1,900 students.
• End of useful life for infrastructure: electrical systems, alarm systems, phone systems, technology systems, security systems, and HVAC.
• Classroom Size: 750 sq. ft. while modern classrooms recommended at 900 sq. ft. for collaborative and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) learning.
• Classroom Acoustics: WHS originally built as open concept with no walls between rooms. Dividers and retro-fitted walls don’t block sound.
• Kitchen: Kitchen equipment is 43-years-old. Kitchen space is too small. Plumbing leaks.
• Athletic facilities adjacent to high school: track and tennis court condition (tennis courts are condemned), lack of restrooms and concession facilities, need for additional girls locker room space, old concrete track bleachers need replacing, lighting is failing, a need for softball fields and minor improvements to the baseball field.

Proposed Solution for WHS

• Demolish old classrooms on east wing and add a new 150,365 square foot, three-story addition on the south end of the building. This will provide an increase in new instruction space by 57,763 square feet.
• Remodel existing building areas with varying degrees of modernization, according to need.
• Windows for as many classrooms as possible.
• New kitchen and cafeteria on east side of building.
• Additional music room and a green room located on the north end of the auditorium.

The Outcome

The community voted on the bond in April 2018, and it did not pass. The final count was very close, failing by approximately 300 votes.

Capital Bonds Cost: $66.5 million
State Match Assistance: $15.98 Million
Completed: 2016

Construction of the new Washington Elementary School, the modernization and expansion of Lincoln Elementary School, and the modernization and expansion of the Castlerock facilities, which house Early Childhood Learning and Special Education, were all completed in the fall of 2016. The projects began in the spring of 2015, thanks to a Capital Improvement Bond passed by voters in 2014.

Safety has improved at each of these locations for building security, and also for pedestrian and driving safety. Each facility has improved walking routes, away from traffic, and bus zones are separated from car drop-off and pick-up areas.

The projects came in under budget! Some of the surplus funds were used to purchase portable classrooms for Wenatchee High School, Columbia Elementary School, and WestSide High School.

Lincoln Elementary $26.9 million

Lincoln Elementary, built in 1956, was the second oldest school in the District, and had outgrown the facility, housing overflow students in 10 portable classrooms. The Lincoln modernization, additions and site improvements project completely remodeled the existing facility and added windows, lighting, bathrooms, flooring, heating and air conditioning, a gym, library and a third classroom wing. The new wing replaced the ten portable classrooms. State school construction assistance is estimated at $5.3 million.
 

Washington Elementary $31.5 million 

Washington Elementary, built in 1953, was the oldest school in the district and had outgrown the facility, housing overflow students in portables. State School Construction Assistance is estimated at $5 million.

• The single corridor design prohibited remodeling construction while school was in session due to noise and construction danger.
• A new school has been built on the same site in a new location and the old school was demolished when the new one was completed.  This prevented having to move students somewhere else during the school year.
• As part of the new school, the entire student drop off and pickup area has been renovated and reconfigured on the existing site to increase student safety. State matching funds are estimated at $5 million.
  
  
  
   

Castle Rock Special Education and Early Learning Center $6.6 million

Located next to Washington Elementary School, this facility was built in 1959. The building has been modernized to fully meet code, had new mechanical and electrical systems, fully updated roofing, insulation, doors and windows, provided handicapped accessibility and new finishes. State matching funds to be determined.




 

Pioneer Middle School Gym: $8.4 million 

Pioneer Middle School was remodeled in 2005, but the gym was left unchanged from its original construction in 1956. This bond modernized the gymnasium and locker rooms, addressed interior and exterior safety and infrastructure improvements, which included new outdoor grandstands and a new synthetic turf field.




 

Mission View Elementary Parking Lot $918,000

The Mission View Elementary School project was to redesign the parking lot to improve safety for walkways used by students and other pedestrians. It created a new, safer student pick up and drop off area for buses and parents, and added additional parking.