The Granite Falls School District recently awarded a $32.4 million bid to build its new high school to Olympia-based Berschauer Phillips Construction Co.
In a tough school construction market, district leaders dangled up to $1 million in incentives for prospective contractors.
Only two companies responded, and the winning bid was 10 percent over budget.
“But that’s much better than the 20 percent other districts are seeing,” said Kathy Grant, a school spokeswoman. “We really do think those incentives helped.”
The new high school is to open in 2007.
Sports speaker to talk to student athletes, parents
Well-known sports speaker Bruce Brown is scheduled to talk to student athletes and their parents at separate events in Arlington and Monroe.
Brown has 35 years of experience teaching and coaching at the junior high, high school and college levels.
On Friday, Brown will speak about the role of parents in athletics at 7 p.m. in the Arlington High School gymnasium, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd.
Topics include:
* What should I say to my child in the car after a game, win or lose?
* How would my child like me to act during a game?
* What is my relationship with my child’s coach?
* How can I encourage and motivate my child? What things should I avoid saying?
Brown will then address student athletes as well as parents in a pair of events Aug. 29 in the Monroe High School performing arts center, 17001 Tester Rd.
At 1 p.m., Brown will talk to students about self-motivation, being a good teammate and having a positive attitude.
At 7 p.m., he will speak again to parents about their role.
Both the Arlington and Monroe events are free.
Marysville to hold open house on school programs
The Marysville School District is planning an open house to discuss new schools and how to break large high schools into small learning communities.
The session will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 29 in the service center board room, 4220 80th St. NE.
The district plans to open a new campus for its middle and high school option programs in 2007, a new elementary in 2008 and a new high school by 2011 and is seeking advice from local residents.
Monroe HS all-weather turf to remain soggy for a year
Drainage problems at Monroe High School’s year-old stadium likely won’t be solved until next summer.
The all-weather turf has not performed to expectations, with water building up in some areas. School administrators have spent months researching the problem.
Most fields of this type work as designed, district spokeswoman Rosemary O’Neil said. “There’s just 5 percent where things don’t go according to plan, and we’re unfortunately part of that 5 percent.”
The field will be playable for sports this fall, she said.
Repairing the problem for good will involve removing the top layer of turf, which won’t be able to be done until next year.
Administrators plan to hire an outside consultant to determine which subcontractor is responsible for the repairs. The district may draw from its capital projects fund to cover the costs and then recoup them later.
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