School board reviews Walla Walla High School improvement plan

School board reviews Walla Walla High School improvement plan
Tuesday school board members conducted a public work session to review improvement plans for Walla Walla High School. BLRB/USKH Architects developed the conceptual designs last school year. Architects reviewed the designs and discussed potential cost scenarios to modernize the school.

The improvement concept hinges on keeping all existing buildings and updating them to meet todays learning needs. They discussed enrollment impacts as a result of the successful College Place Public Schools bond measure. The new College Place High School is expected to be fully occupied with four grade levels by 2018. College Place is anticipating 350 to 400 students will attend the new school once all four grade levels are in attendance.

The 50-year-old Walla Walla High School currently has 16 portable classrooms, outdated and inefficient heating systems, poor technology and electrical infrastructure, classrooms without air conditioning and cramped spaces for all science programs. The school board will conduct another public work session Wednesday, June 27 at 8:30 a.m. at the Port of Walla Walla central office to further discuss district facilities needs. The public is encouraged to attend.