Marysville ready to start building new high school

Published 11:15 pm Sunday, May 11, 2008

MARYSVILLE — After years of meetings, blueprints and budget analyses, construction is about to begin on the new Marysville Getchell High School.

Planners are rushing to turn in permits, finish drawings and get construction bids out, said John Bingham, capital projects director for the Marysville School District.

The district hopes to hire a contractor by June and plans to start cutting down trees and salvaging plants from the site soon.

“It’s actually very busy and very exciting at the same time,” he said. “A lot of people put a lot of time and effort to get us this far. We’re now real close to launching.”

A groundbreaking ceremony is 1 p.m. Saturday at the future site of the school, 8301 84th St. NE. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The school is scheduled to open in 2010 with four distinct learning communities that focus on specific career tracts and function as schools within a school.

Marysville-Pilchuck High School will play host to the remaining learning communities.

Marysville Getchell students will share a cafeteria and a gym.

By the numbers

$96 million: price tag for Marysville Getchell High School

$16.8 million: the state’s share of the cost

193,000: square feet in new school

2010: expected opening date

1,600: school’s student capacity

4: number of separate learning communities

4: number of three-story buildings on campus

Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.