Forum on proposed new Port Angeles High School set tonight

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, October 14, 2014

PORT ANGELES — The community will get a first look at the initial architectural concept for a proposed new Port Angeles High School at a community forum tonight.

The final community forum on the design of the proposed school will begin with a tour of school facilities at 5:30 p.m. at the school’s main office, 304 E. Park Ave., and will followed by the forum at 6:30 p.m. in the school library.

The School Board plans to place a bond measure on the Feb. 10 special election ballot for construction of a new high school on the 39.7-acre campus.

The Long-Range Facilities Task Force estimates the cost of a new school at between $100 million and $120 million.

The task force recommendation is expected to go before the board Oct. 23, when the board meets at 7 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary School, 218 E. 12th St.

The final amount of the bond is expected to be determined at the School Board meeting Nov. 13.

If voters approve the bond measure, the new school likely would open in fall 2018.

Six of the 10 buildings on the campus were built in 1953, two in 1958 and two in 1978.

During a 2007 inspection of the buildings, the structures received scores as low as 25.5 out of a possible 100 score, with the newest structure receiving a 56.4 rating.

District officials have said engineers have determined that remodeling the existing buildings would cost at least 85 cents for every dollar spent to build a new school.