Edmonds district plays school shuffle

By ERIC STEVICK

Herald Writer

LYNNWOOD – Imagine for a moment that Meadowdale Elementary School is a dollar in the old shell game.

Just where it is at the moment is hard to say.

In some ways, it seems to be under more than one shell at the same time; in others, it seems to be under none at all.

The rebuilt Meadowdale campus, 6505 168th St. SW, Lynnwood, is scheduled to open for classes in September after Meadowdale students spent nearly two years in temporary quarters at the former Alderwood Elementary School, 2000 200th Place SW.

For now, the Meadowdale Elementary office is in Meadowdale Middle School. Many of its furnishings are stored in a warehouse.

This is a particularly busy summer for workers behind the scenes in the Edmonds School District. Five schools are on the move – some onto campuses being vacated by others.

Dick Davenport, a special administrative assistant, has served the school district in many capacities since 1958. He can’t remember such a rapid succession of moves, but he is confident they won’t affect student learning.

"They are planning so these kids don’t get short shrift on anything," Davenport said.

While many outlying school districts are experiencing unprecedented growth and searching for ways to build new schools, the Edmonds School District has the luxury of using old buildings as "transition schools."

The transition schools, which are used by schools while their permanent campuses are rebuilt, mean less construction noise and other distractions for students, Davenport said.

Meadowdale Elementary, for instance, had temporary quarters at the long-vacated Alderwood Elementary School, which the district reopened in 1998. It moves back to a new Meadowdale Elementary on its rebuilt campus in August. Estimated construction cost of the new school is $8.3 million.

Other moves made possible by a $72.2 million bond measure passed by voters in 1998 include:

The Maplewood Cooperative, a kindergarten through eighth-grade parent cooperative school, is moving into Alderwood for two years after Meadowdale’s departure. Its existing building, 20100 84th Ave. W., Edmonds, will be demolished this summer where a new school will be built. It’s expected to re-open in 2002.

Maplewood Center, a school for about 50 severely challenged special-needs children on the same campus as the parent cooperative, will be moved to old Woodway High, 23300 100th Ave. W., Edmonds, while its building is remodeled.

Estimated construction cost of the two Maplewood schools is $11.8 million.

Chase Lake Elementary, 21603 84th Ave. W., Edmonds, completed its second year at the old Woodway High School site. Like Meadowdale Elementary, it will be moved into storage and then into its new building before the school year begins. Estimated construction cost is $8.5 million.

Terrace Park K-8 School, 5409 228th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace, will be moved to the old Woodway High site. The existing Terrace Park school will be demolished and a new one built on the campus. Estimated construction cost is $12.9 million with a projected opening in 2002.

Davenport said the district will provide opportunities for interaction for students from the Maplewood Center with students from Terrace Park K-8 during their stay at Old Woodway.

You can call Herald Writer Eric Stevick at 425-339-3446 or send e-mail to

stevick@heraldnet.com.