Input sought at Tuesday forum for new Port Angeles High School

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, September 10, 2014

PORT ANGELES — A second forum to hear what the community wants in a new high school is planned at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

McGranahan Architects of Tacoma will host the forum in the Port Angeles High School library, 304 E. Park Ave.

The Port Angeles School District plans to place a bond measure on the February special election ballot to fund the construction of a new high school to replace the collection of buildings at 304 E. Park Ave. that now house about 1,150 students. Parts of the campus are 61 years old.

To place a measure on the February special election ballot, the board must approve a resolution by Dec. 26.

The amount of the proposed bond has been estimated at between $80 million and $100 million, but the amount won’t be known until the architects draw up preliminary plans.

“In general, the purpose of this forum is to hear from the Port Angeles community what they consider to be important considerations in the development of a new Port Angeles High School,” said Chris Lilley, McGranahan managing principal.

“We’ll engage the group in a variety of discussions and activities designed to allow community members to share their thoughts on what makes Port Angeles High School special today and what will make a new Port Angeles High School the right school for this community for generations to come,” he said.

Questions to be explored at the forum include:

■ What is the most immediate need at the current high school that a new school could address?

■ What do you see as the greatest future need for a high school in this community?

■ Given a blank slate, what would you change about the current high school? What would you keep the same?

■ What investments should the community make (or not make) to get the best value in a new high school?

■ What accommodations should be included in the new school to provide for community use?

■ How would you describe the appropriate design aesthetic for a new high school?

At the first forum in June, attended by about 30 people, several said the school should be the “crown jewel” of the community, with the performing arts center the centerpiece.

Attendees also said the new school should have modern performing arts and vocational education areas, a secure campus, updatable technology systems and easy community access during non-school hours, as well as be energy-efficient and offer outdoor spaces for students to spend time in the open air and larger social gathering spaces than the current school.

A third forum will be scheduled. The date has not been set.