Oct. 23, 2018

At the School Board Meeting Sept. 12, KRL and CKSD reached a formal agreement to partner in re-purposing Central Kitsap High School’s 900 Wing for the library and district administrative offices. The school district administrators are set to move from their Jenne Wright office into the upper floor of the 900 Wing, while the library plans to make its new home on the first floor.

This began merely as a conversation between CKSD’s Assistant Superintendent, Doug Newell, and the Director of KRL, Jil Jean, and has since developed into a more substantial vision. As Central Kitsap High School and Middle School have been undergoing construction, both the school district and local library have had their eyes on the 900 Wing area, which currently consists of the cafeteria as well as some classrooms.

When asked what motivated CKSD to partner with the library, Newell responded that it was because they value their connection with the community. “We desire to make partnerships that improve education for our kids [and also] improve our community,” he said. “If it makes sense financially, it makes sense for location and it makes our community better, absolutely we should do it!”

For KRL’s part, what drew them into the partnership idea according to Jean was the cost-effective design, as well as the opportunity to preserve some of the school’s history. “We’ve been in campaign mode for a bit of time, so the price tag on that [Bucklin and Blaine] site has gone up and up and up,” she explained. “ We’re able to save tax dollars as well as produce a capital campaign that is more realistic. And we’re able to be good stewards in repurposing the building, too. The alumni that I’ve met really care deeply about that campus. To be able to preserve a portion of it as part of the history [of CKHS] is really wonderful to be involved in.”

The second floor of the 900 Wing was originally open concept when built in the 1970s, resembling the cafeteria below, but walls separating hallways and classrooms were installed years later. This structure allows for reconfiguring of the area in a way that would be useful for the school district. Jenne Wright was built about 35 years prior, and requires more maintenance cost for less usable space than this section of the high school offers. However, 41,000 square feet is more than enough for the district’s offices. According to Newell, once this was realized this they began searching for a partner who could use the first floor. They considered various groups, including the library and the sheriff’s department. Newell wasn’t embarrassed to admit his “heart was always with the library,” as it “seems to be a good fit with the education piece.”

The library’s director agrees that the two organizations compliment each other well, making cooperation natural, as it maximizes the efforts of both groups. Jean is most excited about the opportunity to create a good after-school study space for students (easily achievable with 2,100 of them close at hand), and also stressed the importance of general meeting space for the community. “Everybody wins,” she says, “and we’re really excited. A new Silverdale library has been talked about since 1998, so for us to finally have a clear path to having this library is really great.”  She also commended the school district for designing a campus clearly meant to serve the community as well as students, expressing gratitude for being invited to share part of the space.

Both CKSD and KRL also stated interest in developing joint programs, such as summer events at the library with education components, which will be more feasible with the close proximity.

From a legal standpoint, the partnership essentially makes KRL a tenant of the school district, since the land is already owned by them. While sharing the space significantly splits costs for both organizations they will each be responsible for improving their respective sections. Logistically, Newell expects the multi-purpose use of the building to run smoothly, considering that the school district will occupy morning hours while the library is more apt to need the space in the afternoons and evenings.

Jean pointed to the plan’s advantages for public parking, comparing the intended 100 parking stalls in the new location to the 12 spots the library currently claims.  It will take about a year to solidify the design, but they hope to open the library and administrative offices within two years, until which time Newell expects that KRL and CKSD will be meeting monthly to discuss the matter.

Stephen Coons, former Principal of CKHS and past Planning Principal of the new school, commented on the wisdom behind the library’s integration into the 900 Wing along with the school district. “The library can be an adjunct place for them to get resources,” he said, adding that an advantage for the library if they decide to keep the infrastructure is wireless, high-speed internet. The building’s central location on Kitsap County bus routes means easy transit to library as well, as mentioned by Gail Danner, one of the Co-Principals of CKHS and the current Planning Principal of the construction projects. She also noted the ecological efficiency of the building for the school district. Both administrators agreed that the partnership with the library will be mutually beneficial for all involved.

As for the construction of the new high school and middle school, visible progress has been made since students left for the summer last June. According to Danner, the construction is progressing “on time and under budget.”  Almost all of the exterior has been completed now, besides a few final components. Now the concentration is on the gyms and music spaces as the construction finishes up.

The school has entered the active construction phase, and Danner appreciates the thorough planning that set the construction up for success. Skanska is the primary construction company working on the new building. “Our architects are great,” says Danner, “[and specifically] I want to give a shout out to Sidney Thiel, Capital Projects Lead and CK alumna. She has an eye for design, as well as all the organizational skills to keep everything on track. I have learned a ton [from her].” She also commended the work of Robin Shoemaker,  Capital Projects Director.

According to Danner, substantial completion of CKHS will be around the end of June and beginning of July 2019. First occupancy of the high school building will be August 12.  For the middle school’s section of the building, substantial completion is February and they will officially open April 8 of this school year. The new school building is designed for about one third to be used as the middle school, with the rest allocated to the high school.

Not all CKHS students will still be around to enjoy the opportunities that the new school has to offer–current seniors will be missing out. Coons wanted to give a special shout out to the class of 2019, because of their involvement in the project as the last group of seniors to graduate from the current high school building. “When I had to call on members of that class to help in the planning phases, you guys came along and met with middle school and high school folks,” remembers Coons. “You guys are the last class out, and you should be treated very specially. And that’s the intent.”

But for those who will be in the area, it can be expected that the community will have ample opportunity to participate in events at the school as well as in the new library space. The theater will hold 904 people and is envisioned as a future community performance space. Coons expanded on the school’s ability to host community events in the future, describing the new and improved sports areas. He envisions all-season outdoor activities for the community and the school with the synthetic turf fields. The school will also be able to host home football games at the school itself for the first time in years. Coons says that this will also be safer for athletes, since the high school’s off-campus teams (including fast-pitch and tennis) will have the opportunity to play at home and won’t be driving as far.

The new school and community partnerships are all being built as a foundation for the students who are growing up locally. But despite these visible changes, the relationship between students and the rest of the community is nothing new. As Doug Newell said, “we’ve been doing this in Silverdale for over 75 years–working together.”