EVERETT — A $50.1 million renovation is starting this fall at North Middle School on Rainier Avenue.
The project is funded by the 2016 capital bond.
North Middle serves about 825 students. The existing building opened in 1981, though the site has been a school campus since the 1920s.
Enrollment has been growing slightly but steadily in recent years, district planning director Darcy Walker said.
Classes will continue during construction, which is scheduled in phases into 2019. North has three buildings. One, with classrooms and administration offices, will be torn down. The new building in its place will be combined with the existing gymnasium. Later, the third building, which has additional classrooms and the library, will be demolished to make room for a larger parking lot with improved drop-off lanes.
Designs call for a two-story building with an internal courtyard. The rising cost of land, along with increased security concerns, has led to more multi-story, single-building schools in the region. Natural light and outdoor learning spaces also have become standard.
Some classes at North might be moved between buildings this fall, with tear-down scheduled to start in April. Most classes likely will be relocated during spring break 2018.
The plan includes temporary portables on the field. District staff will try to minimize the impact on sports, Walker said. The field is set to be renovated toward the end of the project.
The 2016 bond includes construction of a new elementary school near 180th Street SE, on the south end of the district, along with a renovation of Woodside Elementary. Gateway Middle School is slated for a new roof, among other projects. The bond is raising $149.7 million.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rikkiking.
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