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Port Townsend school officials outline $100M high‑school renovation and phased demolition of Lincoln Building
Summary
School board member Matt Fonts and district presenters told the council the district has started asbestos abatement and is advancing a progressive design‑build program to modernize the high school and Ocean School, supported by state assistance, grants and a proposed bond sale anticipated in the next one to two months.
Matt Fonts, an elected member of the Fort Johnson School Board, told the Port Townsend City Council on May 11 that the district’s Lincoln Building renovation is under way and that hazardous‑material remediation began the week of the meeting. “The 1st step is remediation of hazardous materials. Started today,” Fonts said, describing asbestos abatement that will allow later demolition and reconstruction.
Fonts and district presenters described a district‑wide program with a roughly $100,000,000 scope that prioritizes a full modernization of the main high‑school building, renovation of Dale Street and Gale Stewart buildings to house alternative learning programs, and a new facility for the Ocean School. The district said it is using a progressive design‑build delivery method, in which a single contractor‑designer team is hired early in design to help phase construction so students can remain on campus in temporary locations during the multi‑year work.
School staff emphasized community engagement and oversight: the presentation noted more than 20 events, tours and a facility advisory committee that includes community members, staff and students. District presenters said building ages (annex 1928; main building across 1934–1941; Dale Street 1952) and deferred maintenance informed the decision to demolish and rebuild parts of the campus.
On finance, presenters showed an estimated state School Construction Assistance contribution of about $4,000,000 and other grant funds near $5,000,000, with the remainder proposed to be covered by a bond. Fonts said the bond amount is approximately $99,250,000 with a 20‑year repayment plan and that the district hopes to lock in the first bond sale within the next one to two months, depending on market conditions. “We’re keeping an eye on bond rates,” he said.
District staff described sequencing (the “great shuffle”) that will move students between buildings while work continues, and said heavy demolition would be scheduled for the summer when students are off campus. The district also plans a Lincoln Building memorial event for alumni and the community before demolition proceeds.
Next steps: the district will continue design‑phase coordination with city departments for permitting, refine phasing and cost estimates with the design‑build team, and return to the council with updates as the project advances.
