Kimball Administration explains construction plans for STEM and High School additions to Board

Eastlake High School Addition Project Site -  Aerial

UPDATED, 5/25/2011:  At the April 18, 5PM Board meeting, LWSD Facilities Director, Forest Miller made a Board presentation on six schools planned for construction in 2011.  Community presentations for the same six schools took place weeks earlier in the form of  self-guided "neighborhood input sessions", land use Hearings, and posted notices.  According to Kimball, the district held a PTSA meeting for ICS totalling "100 members".

This piece reports on the Eastlake and Redmond HS additions and the STEM school.  (Bell, Rush and ICS/Community will follow.)  Rose Hill Junior High construction is planned for 2012 and wasn't addressed to the Board, although a neighborhood meeting, a community meeting and environmental review have been held.

Sup. Kimball praised  Director Forest Miller's department saying "I couldn't be more proud of the work that's being done with this modernization area of the Facilities team."

Forest told the Board, "this is the most number of major construction projects being handled at any one time in the history of the District."  He referred to "12 major school construction projects so far, plus 3 projects from the 2011 Capital Projects Levy."

Forest Miller, District Director of Support Services handles transportation and facilities for the district.  Mr. Miller indicated by email that  his modernization responsibilities "cover the real estate, working with the developer and project manager (VEERY), reviewing the design plans, environmental issues, maintenance, liaison to regulatory agencies, and budgeting."  The District hires HEERY International as developer and project manager for all school modernizations.  HEERY replaces and builds the schools from start to finish. Cities run the permit review process. Below, is a summary of the  Board presentation:

EASTLAKE H.S. ADDITION:   The addition is located on the stand of trees in front of the school.  A two story structure will house 14 classrooms with potential for seven portables in the northern school area.  Extra office space is built for counselors and administrators.  The project calls for auxiliary gym by the football field.   Pres. Pendergrass commented it's for gym class space.  A mezzanine is added to the cafeteria for extra seating.  The City of Sammamish requires a secondary access road so 233rd from the North so 233rd will be widened.  This requires removal of two tennis courts.  Six will remain.  Pending Public Review, work starts in 2011 with completion in 2012.  School Board-member Doug Eglington commented he personally saw the Notice sign: "duly posted" on the property. 

REDMOND H.S. ADDITION:   The two-story, 14 classroom addition is located in front of the Performing Arts Theatre. The plan has potential for up to 7 portables just east of the northern section of the football field.  The construction will include additional parking for the administration.  Space for the administrative office, counsellors, and career center will be built.  The wall in the Commons Area is removed, though the Cafeteria space remains the same.  An auxiliary gym in front of the weight room is planned; 33 new bike racks installed.  The original school architects are contracted for each high school addition.  Construction starts in 2011 pending Public Review.

Annotation:  Dr. Kimball sat before the Redmond Council last year asking for a city endorsement of the Capital Projects Levy.   Council Pres. Richard Cole was hesitant to endorse the Levy since RHS is only about 5 years old; and already an addition is "needed."  Where's the planning, he asked?  Dr. Kimball responded "he wasn't the Superintendent at the time" when RHS was re-built.  Council endorsed the Levy 6-1 (Carson).  This project is actively under review by the public.  Comments?   

Click the blue "Read More" link

STEM SECONDARY:  The two-story, 66,000 sf modular school is "prefab" and built off-site.  According to Forest, "The modular school has a 40 year shelf-life compared to the 50+-year life" of the new, replaced schools.  Forest stated, "Nothing is seen like this in the state and no company has been picked yet".  School Board-member Nancy Bernard was concerned about the "volatile organic chemicals" commonly found in modular materials and asked Forest (that VEERY) choose the construction company carefully. 

The Board was pleased with structure's wide setbacks:   The modular project site is on 7 acres of a 21-acre parcel. a 210 feet setback from the northern boundary and 600 feet from the western boundary.  Only 30 feet setbacks required.  Annotation:  Though, it appears there's plenty of room to grow the school, Administration documentation and staff maintain it's not in the long term plans.  The school site is located in King Country outside the Urban Growth Boundary. This project is actively under Review by the Public.  What do you think?

Dr Kimball and Forest Miller's public presentation on Bell, Rush, and ICS/Community "modernizations" (scheduled for 2011) is forthcoming.   Please feel free to comment or express any of your opinions by commenting below or email.

By Bob Yoder
Updated:  5/25

Sources:
April 18 Regular School Board Meeting *video segment on modernization during "Superintendent's Report".
Article on the HEERY International scope of work with Lake Washington School District here.
LWSD website page on modernization phases here.

*Video Advisory - The video takes 37 seconds to get to Pres. Pendergrass's "call to order" so be patient.  The segment starts about 1/3 of the way into the Superintendent's Report.  Click "Superintendent's Report" to advance.  The link to the video broke on 4/19.  If the link breaks again, please email me at redmondblog@gmail.com and I'll ask LWSD to fix it.