MARYSVILLE – With construction costs soaring, the Marysville School District is putting Marysville-Getchell High School on the fast track.

That could save more than $12 million in quickly escalating construction costs.

And the district needs to; its second large high school was originally expected to cost $79 million but now is pegged at $96 million even with the change in the opening date.

The new school was scheduled to open in 2010 or 2011. On Monday, the school board decided to push for the fall of 2010 opening.

Rapidly rising school construction costs are a familiar story across the state, including Snohomish County.

Voters approved a $118 million bond measure in 2006 that included $79 million for the second large comprehensive high school.

The school district will be able to make up the cost difference with state matching money.

“The state match has not been earmarked. It can cover the increase,” said John Bingham, the district’s capital projects director. “It’s not doom and gloom. It’s caution.”

Snohomish and Edmonds school districts have experienced similar sticker shock with high school construction projects.

For instance, Snohomish also is building a second large high school. Estimates for Glacier Peak High School went up from $67 million to $88.3 million in total project costs, which include everything from design work to construction to sales taxes.

The Edmonds School District had a $60 million estimate for the construction phase of its project to build a new Lynnwood High School. Bids came in at $68 million. Edmonds, too, had state matching money set aside so it can complete the work.

“This is not a Marysville, Snohomish County or even a Puget Sound phenomenon,” said Ed Peters, director of capital projects for the Edmonds district. “It is a national phenomenon and has been for several years.”

“The amount of inflation that has happened in the last three years has been unprecedented,” said Peters, who has been working on building projects for three decades.

Marysville hopes to begin logging its 38-acre building site this fall and readying it for construction around March 2008. Construction could begin next spring.

Marysville-Getchell is designed for 1,600 students attending four small schools in separate buildings. The site is off 88th Street on Getchell Hill.

Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.