Tahoma School District wants to grow in Summit Pit

January 1, 0001

Summary

Dunn sponsors legislation to facilitate purchase of a portion of the property

Story

A growing school district would receive room to develop under legislation introduced today by Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn. The legislation would authorize the county to sell a portion of the Summit Pit property in Maple Valley to the Tahoma School District (TSD) to facilitate construction of a new high school.

“In 2013, nearly 70 percent of voters in the Tahoma School District voted to fund the construction of a new high school, which clearly demonstrates the communities overwhelming desire for this project,” said Dunn, who represents the residents of the Tahoma School District on the County Council. “I’m working closely with my colleagues on the County Council to ensure this issue is acted on in a prompt fashion.”

“The District is excited about the location of new high school at Summit Pit and appreciates King County’s efforts to make this a reality. Our community overwhelming supported the 2013 bond measure to fund this project,” said Rob Morrow, Tahoma School District Superintendent. “We need the new high school to open on schedule to meet critical capacity needs throughout our District and at all grade levels. We’ve worked diligently on negotiation of the purchase and sales agreement and project planning so that we can open the high school in the fall of 2017.”

The ordinances introduced by Dunn requests Council approval of the Purchase and Sale Agreement of the land and seeks appropriation approval for the transaction. The Tahoma School District would utilize district funds and a contribution from the state of Washington to meet the $9 million proposed purchase of 35 acres of the 156 acre site for a new high school development.

The School District would like to to have the new high school ready for students by 2017 and have requested closing by the end of 2014 so construction of the facility can proceed.

“We’ve reached a critical juncture,” said Superintendent Morrow. “We need to move quickly toward closing of the sale by mid-November to avoid unnecessary and costly delay expenses and to keep the school’s opening on schedule.”

The legislation will be sent to the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee for discussion and possible action.