PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles School District’s board of directors approved Hurricane Ridge Middle School as the name of the new school that is currently under construction.
The name and building will replace Stevens Middle School, which will be demolished when the new school opens in 2027-2028.
Board members noted Thursday night that Hurricane Ridge Middle School aligns with the new building’s mountain range design references and reflects its connection to a local landmark.
The board chose from four names recommended by a committee of district staff, students and community members: Elwha River Middle School, Hurricane Ridge Middle School, Port Angeles Middle School and Riverstone Middle School.
The community was invited to provide its feedback on the names in person at board meetings and via written comment.
No logo, colors or mascot for the new school were discussed. District policy outlines the process of how schools may be named.
The new name will not add any further cost to the five-year, $52.6 million budget that is fund by the capital projects levy voters passed in February 2020.
“This is a brand new school, and I think it needs to be recognized as a brand new school,” board President Sarah Methner said.
Stevens Middle School was named after the state’s first territorial governor, Isaac Stevens.
At 84,000 square feet, the new middle school will nearly double the size of the current 43,000-square-foot facility.
Nolan Duce, the school district’s director of capital projects, said more than 200 cubic yards of concrete was poured at the site on Thursday, and infrastructure improvements such as a new waterline off D Street and a student drop-off area already have been completed.
Duce emphasized the role local businesses are playing in the project.
“All the concrete is from Angeles Concrete, and Angeles Millwork is supplying the material for the form boards,” he said. “There are eight local carpenters, and two more will be added next week.”
Carlsborg-based contractor Interwest Construction was the low bidder on earthwork, utilities and concrete work on the site.
Duce said the district is in contract with negotiations with TCF Architecture, the firm chosen to design Franklin Elementary School, and Integrus, the firm designing the new Port Angeles High School. It is in the process of hiring firms to perform traffic studies, surveying and hazardous materials evaluations for both projects as well.
Voters approved a 20-year, $140 million bond to replace the Franklin Elementary School and the high school in the November 2024 general election.
An update on all three school projects, along with photos of ongoing work at the middle school, can be found at tinyurl.com/b8xxmbrz.
Language teacher
The board reviewed and unanimously approved an updated memorandum of understanding with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe that included an agreement to share a Klallam language teacher.
Rhonda Kromm, the school district’s director of special services, reported on the classroom preparation for teachers, staff and paraeducators leading up the first day of school that included de-escalating training to diffuse difficult behavior and improve safety and training to help teachers integrate AI into teaching and learning.
During summer school, 102 students earned credit and two completed requirements for graduation.
A committee composed of Methner and school board directors Sandy Long and Stan Williams will interview three candidates for student representative on the board. Juniors and seniors enrolled at Port Angeles High School and Lincoln High School are eligible to serve as a non-voting member and receive a 0.5 elective credit for each semester.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
