Everett Public Schools details timelines for Jackson and Madison rebuilds, HVAC and site upgrades

District facilities staff on Jan. 28 updated the Everett Public Schools Board of Directors on work funded by the 2022 capital levy and by School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) reimbursements, including plans to replace Jackson Elementary and Madison Elementary and major HVAC upgrades to meet state energy requirements.

The presentation summarized completed work from the levy, current projects under construction and planned projects through 2027. The district said the 2022 capital levy totals $325,500,000, with about $229.5 million allocated for construction and approximately $96 million for technology and one-to-one device replacement.

The capital projects team said completed work includes new badge access systems at Cascade and Everett high schools; security fencing and bleacher replacements; secure classroom locksets installed at multiple sites; a new CTE lab at Jackson High School; and boiler and HVAC replacements in several buildings. The team also described completed field and wetland/retention-pond work at Silver Lake, Heatherwood and Woodside.

Staff described major ongoing and upcoming projects: replacement of Jackson Elementary in a phased build-move-demo approach that will open most of the new building before demolition of the old facility (move planned for summer 2026 and project completion around summer 2027); an educational-specifications and design phase beginning next month for the Everett High School auditorium-building modernization; a full replacement of Jackson Elementary’s mechanical systems and other HVAC upgrades across multiple middle and high schools to improve energy performance; tennis-court resurfacing at Cascade and Jackson high schools planned for summer; and design work for Cascade High science-building replacement. The district said it plans to preserve mature oak trees at the Jackson site and intends to avoid additional portables once the new Jackson building opens.

Capital projects staff said Jackson, Madison, Everett High auditorium modernization and a Cascade science building are eligible for SCAP reimbursement and that those four projects may yield as much as $36,000,000 in reimbursements, which the district will request as it bills OSPI in phases during construction.

On the Clean Buildings Act work, staff said major HVAC replacements at Jackson High are about 60% complete; new chillers are on site and will be commissioned before spring. Similar but smaller HVAC upgrades are planned for Evergreen, Heatherwood and Gateway middle schools. Staff warned that failing to meet state energy-performance or management-plan requirements could expose the district to penalties, and they noted some projects’ schedules are paced by levy revenue receipts in April and October.

The board also heard that a bond planning (capital planning) committee of 29 community members, principals and students has been formed; that committee will meet monthly beginning Feb. 6 and provide a recommendation to the superintendent by June 24, 2025.

Board members asked about where portables would be sited on the Jackson site (staff said the play field or adjacent covered-play area) and about how the district budgets expected SCAP reimbursements; staff said the district fronts project costs and expects to recapture eligible SCAP funds later in the project schedule. Staff also confirmed they are considering pickleball striping when resurfacing tennis courts.

The update contained renderings and conceptual design elements for Jackson Elementary, including a salmon-themed interior graphics wall intended to support curriculum connections. Staff said they are working with the district STEM team to ensure the design supports classroom instruction.

The presentation concluded with staff noting ongoing coordination with OSPI for SCAP reimbursement steps and with local jurisdictions on traffic and site access for projects that alter parent drop-off areas.