Chehalis School District Considers Building Two New Schools

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After consulting further with a hired architectural firm, the Chehalis School District has determined it would be “almost the same cost” for the district to build two new schools instead of building one school and expanding and upgrading the existing Olympic Elementary School.

The approval of a $36 million bond measure in April by taxpayers helped fund the addition of one new school, while also building a new wing onto Olympic Elementary School. A remodel of the existing part of Olympic was also approved. 

A preliminary analysis to remodel Olympic at first showed the project would be cost effective, but after working closely with other entities, the board found that the costs are higher than originally anticipated.

“The actual costs of doing things we knew needed to be done to bring Olympic up to required building code for school buildings will be higher than was previously forecast,” stated a letter sent to the Chehalis School District staff.

Items that proved to be more costly include the replacement of mechanical and electrical systems, a new fire sprinkler system, the scope of asbestos abatement and seismic/earthquake retrofit and ADA upgrades.

Instead, the district is now looking into the possibility of building two new schools on the donated Shaw property for “almost the same cost.” In this scenario, the district would not pursue the upgrade and expansion of Olympic. 

“In a nutshell, it will cost about the same to build two new schools as to build one and a one-half new and to remodel the other half,” stated the letter.

If two new buildings were constructed, Olympic Elementary could no longer be used for educational purposes, but it could be used for other school activities, Superintendent Ed Rothlin said.

The funds related to the buildings are a “soft cost,” so Rothlin was unable to estimate the difference in cost, although he said it would be minimal. If the project costs more, the district would be able to complete the project without asking for new funding from taxpayers and could instead borrow from other capital improvement projects if needed.



The letter stated the new development gives the district an opportunity to make the best use of its resources.

Benefits would include an increase in safety and security because all students would be housed on the same campus. The letter also said improved traffic flow would be built into the new plan, and the busy street of 20th Avenue would no longer run through the two campuses. 

By replacing Olympic with a new facility, Rothlin said, the building would serve students farther into the future.

“We are trying to build schools that last 30 to 50 years at a minimum, and I don’t feel we’ll get that with the remodel,” Rothlin told The Chronicle, although he was unable to say how long a remodel would keep Olympic viable. 

Under the new plan, if a new school is constructed instead of doing the remodel, student learning would not be disrupted during construction and the projects could be completed faster and more efficiently. The letter stated the move-in dates for both new schools would be a year earlier because the district would not have to work around a remodel project.

“I think the board is open to any comments that people might make,” he said, adding that the majority of feedback he’s received thus far has been positive. “The question is what is the best investment for the taxpayers?”

The public will be able to voice their opinions at a public hearing set for Sept. 1.