Education
District's plans include moving school

By Lynn Thompson
Times Snohomish County Bureau

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Edmonds School District administrators will recommend relocating Lynnwood High School and leasing out the potentially valuable commercial property across from Alderwood mall where the school sits.

The recommendation, expected to go to the School Board on Tuesday, includes moving the high school to an unused site the district owns on North Road between Lynnwood and Mill Creek east of Interstate 5. The potential move is part of the district's consideration of a long-range financial plan to increase income and reduce the amount of money needed from taxpayers for new Lynnwood and Scriber Lake high schools. The latter is an alternative school.

The recommendation follows a consultant's analysis of 10 properties the district owns in or near commercial areas. District administrators reviewed those findings and reached consensus to offer long-term leases for the most commercially valuable properties and to sell two: the 10-acre site of the former Woodway Elementary School in Edmonds and a warehouse east of I-5 in Lynnwood.

The recommendations are to be discussed at noon today as part of the Superintendent's Round Table, a public meeting at district headquarters, 20420 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood.

The School Board is expected to review them during a public study session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, also at district headquarters.

The consultant, BJSS Duarte Bryant, an Olympia architectural firm, said the total value of the 10 properties is about $35 million, well below the $75 million the district has estimated it will need to rebuild Lynnwood High. The consultant was also asked to assess the potential interest among commercial-real-estate developers in any of the sites.

"It's not as much as the public may have thought," said Marla Miller, the district's executive director for business and operations, of the estimated income from the properties.

She said long-term leases for the present 40-acre site of Lynnwood High School, as well as the sale or long-term lease of a 4-acre site across from the future Lynnwood Convention Center, would pay returns to the district over time.

Miller said the district is not taking offers for any property but has had many inquiries.

The district in September authorized the property study. It involved holdings that total nearly 143 acres, many near highly developed commercial areas such as Alderwood mall and along Interstate 5. BJSS Duarte Bryant evaluated each site and its potential revenue through a sale or long-term lease.
 
The district had hoped some combination of sales and leases might generate enough money to rebuild the two high schools. But after reviewing the report last month, Superintendent Nick Brossoit said a construction bond measure would still be needed to completely fund the projects.

Lynn Thompson: 425-745-7807 or lthompson@seattletimes.com