Land awaits a future Everett elementary school

EVERETT — Newly purchased land near Mill Creek is being saved for another elementary school.

The Everett School District negotiated to buy the 10-acre property along Strumme Road from the University of Washington back in June. The price was $1.2 million. The school board ratified the deal Aug. 27.

The money came from a capital bond voters approved in 2016, the same one that paid for building Tambark Creek Elementary School.

Construction is years away. The school board still has to decide when to run another bond to pay for building costs.

The land is near Strumme Road and 164th Street SE, less than two miles from Tambark Creek. That school opened about two weeks ago.

The site was chosen for a couple of reasons, said Mike Gunn, the district’s executive director of facilities and planning.

“The most growth we’ve had in the past five years or so has been in the south end of the district,” he said. “Another is that’s where we found the property that was the right size and available.”

In the past decade, the district has gained roughly 1,100 students. Another 1,800 are expected to enroll by 2027.

In all, about 20,950 students attend Everett schools.

No structures are on the site now, just trees. A family had donated it to the UW less than a year ago, Gunn said.

The district hopes to buy another 10 acres neighboring the plot before building begins.

The future elementary school will be No. 19 for the district. The most recent addition, Tambark Creek, located at 4419 180th St. SE, includes 30 classrooms, with enough space for 600 children. Wetlands provide outside learning, and lessons are planned with a focus on STEM, or science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students are required to wear uniforms, a rule that bothered some families.

The Tambark Creek land was purchased more than 10 years ago.

“We buy property well ahead of when we need it,” Gunn said.

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.