Ordinance selling portion of Summit Pit to Tahoma School District heads to full Council

September 16, 2014

Summary

Budget Committee sends Dunn legislation with unanimous do pass recommendation

Story

A new high school in the Tahoma School District (TSD) is a step closer after today’s action by the Metropolitan King County Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. The committee sent to the full County Council, with a unanimous “Do Pass” recommendation, legislation sponsored by Councilmember Reagan Dunn authorizing the county to sell a portion of the Summit Pit property in Maple Valley to the School District to facilitate construction of a new high school.

“This legislation is one step closer to final action by the County Council. Once passed, it will help pave the way to fulfilling the will of the voters in the Tahoma School District to begin construction of a much needed new High School,” said Dunn, who represents the residents of the Tahoma School District on the County Council. “I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Council to insure its timely passage.”

“We greatly appreciate the Committee's action today to move the proposed property sale forward to the full Council. The new high school at Summit Pit is critical to the District's ability to provide needed student capacity and to do so in a central location desired by our community,” said Rob Morrow, Tahoma School District Superintendent. “We look forward to the Council's timely consideration of the ordinance so that we can make this school a reality for our community. The Committee's action today helps us to remain on track to close on the sale by mid-November so that we are able to keep the school's opening on schedule.”

The ordinances introduced by Dunn requests Council approval of the Purchase and Sale Agreement of the land and seek 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 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.

With the Do-Pass recommendation, the legislation will be sent the full County Council for discussion and possible action at the Council’s September 29 meeting.