Western Line School District requests county crews tear down three unused buildings; board approves

Western Line School District officials told the Washington County Board of Supervisors the district is nearing completion of three construction projects and needs several existing wooden structures removed before continued work can proceed.

Assistant Superintendent James Johnson and Maintenance Director Henry Miller described three sites where small wooden buildings or modular units must be demolished: an alternate learning center on the abandoned high‑school campus, a music and art center on an old elementary campus and a library/media center at Riverside Elementary. Miller said the buildings are similar to double‑wide modular units; one sits on a slab that the district also asked to have removed.

Board action: The board approved county crews and equipment to tear down the structures and remove debris, with the district responsible for dumpster and landfill costs. Supervisors asked staff to coordinate timing and asbestos testing protocols; the district said they perform asbestos testing annually and would supply documentation. The board instructed road department staff to coordinate logistics and return to the board with a timeline.

Why it matters: Removing existing structures is a necessary step for the district’s renovation and reuse projects. The county’s road/maintenance crews will provide labor and equipment assistance, reducing the district’s need to contract private demolition services.

Ending: County staff will contact the district to set a demolition schedule and confirm the district's landfill/dump arrangements; the board asked for a follow‑up timeline from the road department.