Newsletter
Facilities Advisory Committee Meeting #7
On April 15, the White Salmon Valley School District’s Facilities Advisory Committee held its seventh, and perhaps most pivotal meeting to date. The committee came together with a key objective: to reach consensus on a recommendation for the district’s long-term facilities plan. We’re pleased to share that the committee unanimously supports a transition from three school facilities to two.
The proposed plan includes two major components. First, it calls for significant renovations at the Henkle/WPSIS campus to transform it into a modern, high-quality learning environment for students in either grades K–5 or K–6.
Second, the plan includes new construction at Columbia High School to add classrooms and a flexible, multi-purpose space, one that could potentially serve as a cafeteria, commons, performing arts venue, gymnasium, or a combination of all four. This new area would be built between A-Court, C-Court, and the Library, creating a secure, enclosed campus for students in grades 6–12 or 7–12.
One of the most notable advantages of this two-facility model is that it allows WSVSD to be classified by OSPI as a unified K–12 campus. That classification opens the door to significantly more state funding, boosting potential School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) funding from around $15 million in SCAP funds to approximately $27 million in SCAP funds. These flexible dollars can be applied across both campuses, wherever the need is greatest.
It’s important to note that this is still a recommendation, not a final decision. The next step will be to gather public input. We are beginning to design a community engagement process that will allow us to share the committee’s recommendation and hear from families, staff, and community members, before bringing a final proposal to the board in June or July.
This work is being guided by enrollment trends, building condition assessments, and our district’s financial capacity for capital projects. Most importantly, it reflects what we heard from our community loud and clear during last year’s strategic planning process; our facilities matter, and they need investment. This recommendation is directly aligned with one of our six strategic goals, “To ensure safe and sustainable WSVSD facilities now and into the future.”
Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved in the public input process. We look forward to your voice being part of the conversation.
WSVSD Arts Walk Presents - Empty Bowls
Join us to walk the art show and see student work from the year. Afterwards, you can choose to donate $15 to receive a handcrafted bowl made by art students and fill it with gourmet soup by local restaurants Henni's and Everybody's. Bread donations by White Salmon Baking Co.
All proceeds donated to WAGAP to address food insecurity in our area.
