SEQUIM — Sequim’s Community School was included in a Department of Education list of the state’s lowest-performing schools last week.
State Superintendent Randy Dorn released a list of the lowest 5 percent of schools receiving or eligible to receive federal Title I funds that are identified as the “persistently lowest-achieving schools” in the state.
Dorn said these schools don’t get the resources they need.
This year, 57 schools from 38 districts were identified — only one of them located on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Sequim Community School houses specialized district and community programs for children, students and adults.
“As far as state assessment, we house the Olympic Peninsula Academy, which consists of approximately 75 students, and the Alternative High School, which consists of approximately 30 students,” Vince Riccobene, district director of instruction, said in a statement Tuesday.
“The staff works to create improvement plans annually to ensure the kids are receiving the same high level instruction as other kids.”
The school was considered for closure by the Sequim School Board earlier this year — but that was because of the cost of repairing or remodeling the 1950s era structure on West Alder Street.
School board members were told that it would cost $3 million to demolish and rebuild the structure, or $200,000 to $300,000 to remodel the 71,000-square-foot structure so it can still be used temporarily, with improved energy efficiency and other upgrades.
As a Title I school, Sequim Community School is eligible for federal school improvement grants meant to help struggling schools.
However, this year there is no funding available because of budget cuts.
“State law requires us to put out this list,” Dorn said.
“But that law was also based on the assumption that schools would receive more funding in order to improve,” he added.
“To me, it’s completely unfair to call out these schools without giving them additional resources, but that is the world we live in now.”
The process of identifying the schools began in 2010, with the introduction of the federal School Improvement Grants.
That year, the 47 named schools were given a chance to apply for grants ranging from $50,000 to $2 million.
As a state, Washington received $17 million.
Dorn said that of the 57 schools, only four have fewer than 50 percent of students receiving free or reduced-price lunches.
“These schools are dealing with very challenging populations,” he said.
“I know we’re in the middle of an economic crisis, but the past three years the Legislature has chiseled away at basic education resources.
“Those schools – in fact, all schools – need additional resources.”
Schools on the list are identified using a variety of factors, such as the school’s average state test scores in reading and math from 2009 to 2011, the school’s graduation rates and whether the school has meet the federal Adequate Yearly Progress requirements.
In October, a Sequim School District facilities committee released a report that describes the aging building housing the Sequim Community School as containing asbestos and failing heating systems, as well as old and outdated plumbing and inadequate insulation for energy efficiency.
A more recent report said that fuel oil to heat the building soared in cost to nearly $61,000 during the past school year.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.