PORT TOWNSEND — A Port Townsend School District long-range planning committee has recommended that Mountain View Elementary be closed and other school facilities either be renovated or replaced.
“One thing that did come out very strongly was recognizing the need to close Mountain View,” said committee co-chair Julie Jablonski of the committee’s analysis that had been ongoing since May 25.
It was presented to the board on Monday night.
Port Townsend School Board Chair John Eissinger said the board plans a retreat in January to digest the recommendations and determine what actions to take.
Superintendent Tom Opstad said no actions will take place for at least a year or two.
Jablonski said that in addition to the closure of one school, all the other Port Townsend School District facilities except Blue Heron Middle School need major renovations.
Those facilities are Grant Street Elementary, Mountain View Elementary and Port Townsend High School.
“That’s the biggest challenge of the school district,” said Opstad, “deciding to renovate or rebuild. Typically with remodeling, your costs are pretty high.”
Declining enrollment
In addition, to deteriorating facilities, the district is serving fewer students, a trend it expects to continue.
“We’re facing declining enrollment and the usable life of the facilities coming to an end,” said Jablonski.
The current enrollment, kindergarten through 12th grade, is about 1,440 students, down from 1,779 in the 1996-97 school year.
That’s expected to drop to about 1,200 in the next three to four years, said Opstad.
Mountain View Elementary students would be shifted to other facilities.