Mercer Island School District details summer facilities work, highlights Merry Maid pool renovation

Mercer Island School District officials on Thursday told the School Board that a year of summer projects left district facilities in notably better condition, while underscoring continuing maintenance and enrollment questions.

The districts annual facilities update, presented by project manager Randy and district staff, highlighted the Merry Maid pool renovation as the largest completed project. The work included exterior painting and siding repairs, relocation of an entry office to create an accessible viewing area, installation of new ADA restrooms, replacement of metal lockers with phenolic lockers, epoxy flooring, and planned acoustical wall panels for completion in November or December. King County contributed $2 million toward the project, staff said.

Why it matters: the pool is used for school programming and community meets; staff emphasized that the design-build approach and a guaranteed maximum price allowed the team to repurpose contingency funding to add accessibility and interior upgrades without exceeding the contract budget.

Staff also described district-wide summer activity: interior and exterior paint at the three older elementary schools, permanent exterior and interior graphics packages tailored to each schools identity, and the first round of a multi-year classroom furniture replacement at Mercer Island High School (12 classrooms plus a room at Crest this year). The CapTECH allocation for classroom furniture (approximately $200,000 per year) covered movable, warranty-backed desks and chairs intended to increase classroom flexibility, staff said.

Energy compliance wins: Kathy in facilities reported that conservation and auditing work certified several older buildings under Washingtons Clean Buildings program without capital expenditures, saving the district "tens of thousands" of dollars and lowering utility costs that affect MSOC advocacy, presenters said.

What remains: staff listed remaining work for Merry Maid (acoustical installations and final finishes) and identified planned 2026 projects, including sealing and painting the high schools 30-year-old brick and stucco, the second round of high-school furniture replacements and required water testing driven by Department of Ecology rules.

Enrollment and utilization: Facilities staff placed the update in the context of enrollment and long-range planning. Using September counts for consistency, staff reported that district elementary enrollment trailed demographer projections while middle-school counts were above projections. The long-range facilities plan lists elementary classroom targets and a utilization metric for middle and high schools based on periods taught; staff presented an alternate planning metric that preserves dedicated art and special-education rooms and noted that portables (four at several sites) provide additional, uncounted capacity.

Board members asked for a refreshed demographic study within two to three years, and for greater clarity on the share of school-age children who live on Mercer Island versus those who attend from outside the city through open enrollment.

Bottom line: The district completed major accessibility and interior improvements this summer while preserving contingency for added finishes and repairs. Staff said they will return with Strategy360 community-survey findings related to bond planning and will present updated demography and utilization analyses to guide long-term facility decisions.