Kent School District proposes $895,700 renovation to expand outreach program space in Green Building

Capital projects staff described a student-needs-driven renovation of the Green Building adjacent to the main outreach facility to provide additional instructional and support space after the state extended the outreach program service mandate through students' 20th birthday. The presenters said the district purchased the property for about $1.7 million and proposed renovation soft-and-hard costs totaling roughly $895,700, bringing the total district investment to approximately $2.6 million.

Staff said the renovation scope is intentionally modest: asbestos abatement management, flooring, restroom fixtures, resurfaced parking, upgraded technology and security systems, and reconfiguration of multiple small rooms into larger, flexible instructional spaces. The capital team said in-house management of several scopes is expected to reduce contractor markups and that competitive bidding and interlocal cooperatives will be used where appropriate. Staff framed this work as saving the district roughly $1.8 million when compared to constructing a like-for-like ground-up facility.

Outreach program leadership (Sue Whitehall) confirmed equipment and programmatic supports largely exist and said the project primarily adds safe, accessible space near the main building; presenters noted ADA accessibility and parking improvements would be included. Board members asked about prior investments in the property and operating costs; staff said operations will be covered within existing program budgets and that the district will continue to seek grant opportunities for additional features (for example, apartment-like life-skills space in a later phase or a future bond measure).