Everett council delays $72 million borrowing vote for old high school after hours of debate over safety and displaced services

Council President Robert Van Kampen brought forward an order asking the Everett City Council to approve an appropriation by borrowing of $72,000,000 to renovate the former Everett High School at 548 Broadway for additional school space. After more than two hours of public comment and a lengthy council exchange with school and administration officials, the council declined to approve the borrowing tonight and instead postponed the matter pending a detailed plan for relocating community tenants.

The proposal presented by Superintendent Hart and Mount Vernon Group architect Frank Tedesco would repurpose contiguous space in the former high school to house an estimated 1,100 seventh- and eighth-grade students, a move the superintendent described as needed to relieve overcrowding in Everett schools. "The use that I'm here for remains the same, to house approximately 1100 students for 7th 8th grade in the short term, to accommodate overcrowding," Superintendent Hart said during the presentation.

Residents and service providers filled the council chamber and many urged caution. Public speakers raised concerns about the scale of the borrowing, changing cost estimates, and the potential displacement of nonprofit services that currently operate in the building. Nicole Finna of Everett Community Growers asked the city to "deeply involve us in the planning" and to provide relocation support if the Broadway farm must move. Several residents asked for independent review of prior cost projections and how taxpayer dollars would be spent.

A central point of contention was the Elliott Family Resource Center and the Broadway Boxing Club, which currently occupy space in the former high school. Chief of Staff Erin Devaney told the council the administration had spoken with those organizations but could not guarantee that both the expanded educational program and all existing community functions could remain under the current design. "There is no guarantee at this point that we would be able to find another location within the former Everett High School for the boxing club and or the Elliott Family Resource Center," Devaney said, while also saying the mayor was committed to exploring options to preserve services "if it could be done in a safe and reasonable purpose."

Councilors pressed the administration and the architect on asbestos removal, classroom layout, parking and neighborhood impacts, secure classroom locks and entry points, and whether additional funding or a different design could allow more space to remain for community services. The Mount Vernon Group's consultant said asbestos in the building was "fairly limited" and that removal could occur with isolated work zones without endangering other occupants.

Procedurally, the council attempted a favorable-action vote on the borrowing order. On the roll call the motion recorded seven ayes and four nays; because a borrowing appropriation requires eight votes, the motion failed. A motion to reconsider that result later passed unanimously (11–0). After reconsideration, Council President Van Kampen moved to postpone the item and request that the administration provide a detailed plan for the relocation or accommodation of the Elliott Family Resource Center and the Broadway Boxing Club; that motion passed and Item 26 was postponed.

In short, the council did not authorize the $72 million borrowing tonight. Instead, it asked the administration to return as soon as possible with a concrete relocation and security plan that addresses how community services will be accommodated or relocated and how student safety, parking and neighborhood impacts will be mitigated. The postponement leaves the underlying overcrowding problem unresolved but sets a next step the council requires before it will consider bonding for the renovation.

The council also took several related actions later in the meeting, including voting on several public-petition items and approving grants and donations. The reappointment of Bernard J. Devereaux as city assessor carried unanimously earlier in the meeting. The council adjourned after completing the evening's business.