Port Angeles School Board considers selling
PORT ANGELES — The cash-strapped Port Angeles School District will study promoting and leasing unused and unneeded belongings across the district after the latest School Board action that covered authorizing shifting the administrative work to the Lincoln Center.
School Board participants permitted a sequence of resolutions remaining Thursday to transport its administrative workforce to the Lincoln Center, 905 W. Ninth St., from the Central Services Building, 216 E. Fourth St., and to sell the Central Services Building.
The movement additionally included starting the development of sports activities fields at the previous Monroe Elementary School, trying to hire the previous Fairview Elementary School, looking on the cost of unused property around Stevens Middle School, and one ultimate strive at having the Donahue House at Port Angeles High School eliminated earlier than the district moves to demolish the building.
“We’ve gone out to each of our school machine homes … and accumulated remarks,” Superintendent Martin Brewer told the School Board.
He stated the more than 500 employees overwhelmingly supported every concept and supplied copies of responses he received from the district’s personnel to the board.
Directors Sandy Long and Cindy Kelly were now not gifted. Directors Bill Kindler, Josh Jones, and Sarah Methner unanimously agreed on each of the suggestions.
The district authorized $2.6 million in staff cuts this 12 months to cope with a deficit it said changed into created an element with the aid of the national Legislature’s “McCleary Fix.” The board approved the resignations, retirements, and reductions in the pressure of 32 personnel Thursday.
Central Services
The administrative body of workers will pass to the Lincoln Center this summer. The district works to broaden a request for proposals to hire the unused area to vicinity nonprofits and community-minded companies.
The Central Services Building assets changed into appraised in 2010 to be worth greater than $1 million. Maintenance and Facilities Director Nolan Duce believes the fee has extended using “pretty a piece” because then.
“I don’t think it would be too big of trouble to promote that constructing,” Duce stated.
He said presently the district is paying $60,000 to $80,000 greater in step with year to keep administrative homes and that the savings in 12 months might greater than cover the costs of moving and making ready the constructing.
Brewer said the district would want to talk with Peninsula College officials approximately the university’s motive for its part of the building.
He stated unused rooms within the building could be leased at less costly charges that might help the district lower the prices of preserving the building.
He said that if an organization leases 100 square ft of the construction, that company might also be able to use different “common spaces” in the building, including the board room.
“I’m very endorsed approximately the conversations I’ve had,” Brewer stated. “Not only will this offset our fees to operate this building, but it’ll also create partnerships across our community.”
Monroe and Fairview
Board motion Thursday permits the district to start developing the previous Monroe Elementary School web page into sports activities.
The board approved as much as $250,000 to start the mission. The closed faculty had been used for garage until it turned into demolished in 2017. Last 12 months, district officials said the Monroe Elementary School’s unused space made the district eligible for kingdom investment, but most effective for five years after demolishing the construction.
“This would now not entire the Monroe website, but it might begin the manner,” Brewer said. “It’s essential to start paintings on our capital wishes.
The board will also look for a protracted-term rent for Fairview Elementary School, which has also been closed for numerous years.
Brewer stated the district wishes to keep the building due to having the vacant building; the district is eligible for up to $3.Five million in kingdom matching price range for a challenge inside the faculty district.
“We have as a minimum one network partner interested in a dialogue,” Brewer said.
Stevens Middle School property
Duce said there might be belongings around Stevens Middle School. This is unused and will possibly never be used by the district.
The district owns approximately a full block of undeveloped wood property close to the faculty and different property within the location.
He said that in the past, the block of wooden assets turned into appraised for greater than $one hundred,000, but that appraisal did not take a look at the fee of the wooden.
Duce said if the assets are bought, the proceeds will move into the district’s capital initiatives fund.
He said the district also owns lots south of the school’s parking lot.
While the school board directed Brewer to decide the price of the belongings, the board did not decide whether or not to sell the property.