The Port Angeles School Board wants $66 million, to remodel Stevens Middle School down to the slab, which is like building a brand new school without worrying about the ground work.
Then add 37,000 square feet of new construction.
Do they want to use their assets (Fairview school and the old administration building) to help?
No, when they sell them, they would rather have that money go into the general fund.
Which makes me wonder: Is there nothing of value at Stevens?
They say problems are “asbestos tiles, corroded and bursting pipes, outdated electrical systems and roaring heaters.”
When I heard that a red flag went up.
In 2015, they were trying to get a levy passed for the high school.
Same kind of problems, water leaks and heaters so loud students couldn’t hear teachers and no clean water.
What happened to that?
Did the problem go away or was that just scare tactics?
I don’t doubt that all of our schools need some improvements.
But every time I go to a school board meeting, it sounds like they want to pass a levy for a brand new Lamborghini or Rolls-Royce, while never discussing a Ford or a Chevrolet.
Buildings can be renewed, remodeled and made usable without being brand new.
Our Clallam County courthouse, built in 1915, is still very functional.
Why can’t our schools be taken better care of, instead of building new ones all the time?
William Yucha,
Port Angeles