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Issaquah School District to proceed with next high school; board does not pursue structural grade-level changes now
Summary
District staff told the board planning for a new high school will proceed with target construction in March 2026 and opening in August 2027; the board decided not to pursue immediate changes to school grade configuration after reviewing community feedback.
The Issaquah School District told the board it will move forward with planning and design for a new high school to reduce overcrowding, with a target construction start date of March 1, 2026 and an expected opening in August 2027.
Superintendent Dr. Dana Bailey and school planners said the district has extended the project's permit, met with the City of Issaquah regarding design revisions and remains within the project's available funding from the 2018 bond and 2022 levy. Director Tom Mullins, director of capital projects, said the portfolio of 2018 and 2022 levy projects is progressing: several projects are substantially complete and others are in process. Mullins also said audits and retro-commissioning work are funded in part by grants.
The planning team presented the board with several options that had been discussed previously—repurposing middle-school space, changing grade configurations to K—6/7—9/10—12, or double-shifting high schools—but said those options had significant costs, transportation impacts and limited community support. "We are moving forward with planning for our next high school to address the core problem of overcapacity," Dr. Bailey said, and recommended delaying structural reconfiguration work for the immediate term.
Board members asked about project transparency and how the public can track spending. Mullins pointed to the capital projects web page and said project 1-pagers, budget status reports and oversight committee materials are posted. Mullins also said the capital projects oversight committee will meet again on June 17 and that the committee's materials have been posted.
On funding, the district said the Issaquah High investment-grade audit and energy-efficiency measures are funded largely through a Department of Commerce energy efficiency grant; the district's share is roughly 15 percent. Audits for Skyline and Liberty were covered by an OSPI per-square-foot grant and were fully covered; Mullins estimated the two audits total a little over $100,000. The Issaquah High project that includes the investment-grade audit and energy-efficiency measures is expected to be "something shy of a million dollars total," Mullins said.
District leaders said fall 2025 will begin community engagement to develop the new high school's identity, grade configuration, schedule and programmatic elements; staff emphasized the district intends extensive community and student involvement in decisions about the new building's programs.
Ending: The board asked staff to continue coordination with the city and to post regular updates on the capital projects page; the board's capital projects oversight committee will continue monthly reviews.
