Sequim board members eye property for new school bus barn

SEQUIM — School district property behind the Boys & Girls Club building on Fir Street is probably the best location for a new “bus barn,” School Board members concluded Monday.

That consensus was reached at an evening work session and is not a binding decision by the board.

But Superintendent Garn Christensen said it is a “site that’s under strong consideration.”

The district’s current facility for storing and maintaining school buses, located behind Sequim High School, failed a fire and safety inspection last year and must be replaced.

The site behind the Boys & Girls Club was one of 10 options considered by school leaders. The options included rebuilding on the current site, moving the facility to other district property or buying additional land.

6,000 square feet

As outlined Monday, the new facility would have 6,000 square feet of space, a bus lift and room to park the district’s buses and motor pool vehicles.

The additional room and equipment would allow more maintenance to be done in-house and leaves space to accommodate school district growth.

It carries an estimated price tag of $1.5 million, not including street improvements. A smaller, 4,800-square-foot facility at the current bus barn location is estimated to cost slightly more than $800,000, while off-campus construction would also cost about $1.5 million — not counting the cost of acquiring land.

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