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Wenatchee board reviews proposal to move Valley Academy into Columbia Elementary to address space, safety and program growth
Summary
District staff proposed relocating Valley Academy to the Columbia Elementary campus to solve parking, drop-off safety, lack of green space and insufficient specialist spaces; staff said adding 9th–10th grades could grow enrollment but requires further cost and facilities analysis and stakeholder outreach.
District staff presented a proposal to relocate Valley Academy into the Columbia Elementary campus, saying the move would address safety and facility shortfalls at Valley while preserving Columbia as a community asset.
The district described Valley's current problems as inadequate parking and unsafe pickup/drop-off, limited or no green space, an undersized kitchen and insufficient restroom and specialist areas such as library, music and gym. "It is a busy area... that leads to the unsafe pickup and drop off," a district presenter said, and noted past flooding at the Valley site that required remodeling.
The Columbia campus, the district said, "addresses all of the current challenges at Valley Academy in its site" and could house much of Valley's programming. Staff emphasized goals to keep Columbia in district hands, honor the school's history and reserve up to one-third of the building for other community or district uses. The board heard that moving Valley could also free capital funds for future projects if the current Valley property were surplussed.
District staff and Valley leadership outlined potential program growth if 9th and 10th grades were added, describing enrollment increases from about 170 historically to roughly 220 currently, with a projection to reach about 250 over time if high-school grades are added. The Valley program's parent-partner homeschool model also drew attention: program lead Shelley Gelsings explained that a written student learning plan with 28 hours equals full-time FTE while some students attend as few as two hours for specific classes. "We partner with the families and are able to offer a lot of really great resources to the family," Gelsings said.
Board members pressed for concrete cost estimates and infrastructure requirements: whether Columbia's elementary sinks and toilets would need replacement for older students, what staffing (teachers, counselor, custodial) would be required, and how STEM/CTE access would be preserved for older students. Staff said they do not yet have final dollar figures and proposed a next-step timeline: a deeper needs analysis and staff walkthrough in February, classroom and staffing planning in March, packing and moving in June–July and an opening in late August, with stakeholder communication throughout.
District officials also described a process for the remaining Columbia space: the district would solicit proposals from community partners or internal programs for the surplus one-third of the building, evaluate proposals, negotiate leases or contracts and address utility sharing and space separation while prioritizing student safety.
The board did not vote on the proposal; the presentation was framed as a proposal and an invitation to refine cost, staffing and timeline details before formal action.
