GRANITE FALLS – The Granite Falls School Board voted Wednesday to place a $30 million proposal to build a new high school on the May 17 ballot.
A new high school would set off a domino effect, with the existing high school becoming a middle school and Granite Falls Middle School eventually becoming a third elementary school.
“It will solve our overcrowding problems K-12 (kindergarten through 12th grade) for a long time,” district Superintendent Joel Thaut said.
The board had been considering a fall bond measure but found that many residents urged a spring proposal, he said.
“People here who are active in the community are saying, ‘Let’s do this. Why wait? We know we need to do it. Let’s just get on with it.’ “
Enrollment in the past 12 years has increased by more than 1,000 students, increasing to 2,402 from 1,380. The high school has a capacity of 572 students but enrolls 702. The campus has 10 portables, with four more to arrive this month.
A bathroom portable will be added for students attending classes in the portables.
The new high school would be built on about 40 acres of district-owned land west of Monte Cristo Elementary School, which fronts Burn Road.
The land is a combination of property the district has owned for years and land that was bought with proceeds from a 1999 bond measure.
The district would qualify for up to a $10 million contribution from the state.
The local share would cost taxpayers about $1.44 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, or $288 a year on a $200,000 home.
The new high school would be built for 800 students. The proposal includes 38 classrooms, including five science labs, two business technology labs, two library and media technology labs, and a greenhouse. It would include a gym that would seat 1,200 and a performing arts center with 120 seats that could be expanded to 500 seats.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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