Superintendent Wilson brings school upgrade plans before Chelan council

CHELAN – Lake Chelan School District Superintendent Brad Wilson delivered a District Facility Plan update to the April 8 meeting of the city council, where he outlined priority projects and their estimated costs.

Wilson prefaced his presentation with acknowledgements to council member Jon Higgins, who serves as council liaison with the district, and council member Terry Sanders with the middle school, for their contributions.

Wilson said the process is still in the pre-bond phase of the strategic plan adopted in 2023.

“We do not have an official bond resolution yet,” said Wilson but addressed the steps leading to a recommendation for the November 2025 bond.

Wilson said the planning committee was very specific regarding the need to “improve facilities, not maintain, not modify” because the district has fallen behind with improvements when compared to neighbor schools.

“Facilities feed into everything we do,” said Wilson. 

Wilson reviewed the process of thought exchange surveys, student and community listening sessions, and more than half a dozen Facility Advisory Committee (FAC) meetings that contributed to the study completed by ALSC Architects of Spokane for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The survey grades school buildings based on standards set by the state.

Failing grade

Wilson noted that based on those state standards Morgen Owings Elementary (MOE), Chelan Middle School (CMS), and Chelan High School (CHS) all received failing grades.

“MOE was rated as poor, meaning only 30 percent effective,” said Wilson. “Overall, we graded out at 50.30 (out of 100), an F in the school world.”

MOE (built in 1948) deficiencies include:

• Roofing and ceilings.
• Draining and plumbing.
• HVAC and electrical systems.
• Fire protection.

Wilson said student safety is his greatest concern among the many issues at MOE.

“Elementary students having to cross the street every day to MOE is what I feel is our biggest safety risk on a daily basis,” said Wilson. 

CMS/CHS received 30 percent poor ratings as well (56.96/100). Needed upgrades include:

• Roofing
• Doors and windows
• Interior construction and ceilings
• HVAC and electrical
• Electronic security, integrated automation systems.

Wilson added the non-ADA accessible weight room and a shop area not up to state industry standards.

“We’re focused more than ever on career and technical education (CTE) providing students a pathway into the work force,” said Wilson.

Wilson said student athlete facilities were not part of the study but Chelan’s need attention.

“We don’t have an all-weather track,” Wilson said.

He added that Mt. Goat Field, not fully completed when it opened in 2013, lacks proper locker rooms, bathrooms, or concession stands.

“Our kids change in a storage shed and we are woefully short on parking,” said Wilson.

Cost projection

Following the status report Wilson laid out the projects prioritized by the 18-member FAC over the past two-plus years of deliberations.

“Our educational facilities need to be our priority,” said Wilson listing the priorities and projected costs in order:

1. Replace rather than remodel the elementary school and add PreK. $54,740,000

($4,044.314 2024 OSPI match funds available if bond passes)

1. Located behind the district office/community gym.

1. CMS/CHS remodels and additions $9,550,000
1. Metal shop and wood shop remodels.
2. Ground floor weight room.
2. Mt. Goat fields modernizations $9,850,000
1.  Track w/lights, parking, locker room, concession/bathroom buildings.

Wilson said a March 2025 cost projection of $0.86/$1,000 of assessed value for a 20-year bond provides the $70,000,000 funding needed. A bond requires 60 percent voter approval.

Wilson explained the advantages of a bond that provides the district with a larger upfront investment to make major updates, locks in current interest rates and construction costs, and can be repaid over a longer period. The latter keeps the tax rate lower when compared to a capital levy.

Wilson noted that in 2024 Lake Chelan School District’s tax rate ranked 263 out of 295 school districts and that Chelan is the lowest among 11 school districts in the four-county area encompassing Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, and Grant counties. Wilson concluded with the reminder that the school district is not relying solely on taxpayers.

“We are pursuing all available grants,” Wilson said. 

He added that the plan is not creating an additional campus that will create additional ongoing costs nor attempting to band-aid long term problems that will continue to cost the district for long term solutions.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media