Facilities Planning Task Force
Recommendations and Feedback Opportunities
In June 2026, the Facilities Planning Task Force (FPTF) identified and shared priority projects with the superintendent and school board. The volunteer group spent nine months studying the conditions of our schools, enrollment trends, student and program needs, future opportunities, and funding options.
School districts receive minimal funding for building updates, repairs, maintenance or construction. Districts around the state rely on local, voter-approved bonds and levies to provide funding to address these needs. While our staff are dedicated to finding grants and other funding sources, this funding is usually dependent on having a bond or levy in place.
No decision has been finalized yet. Throughout the summer and into the fall, we are asking for your feedback and priorities as we co-create a plan to address our facilities. In September, the task force will reconvene and review feedback from the community to make a final recommendation to the school board.
Timeline:
- October 2025-June 2026: Facilities Planning Task Force meetings to review existing condition of facilities, district needs, and develop draft recommendations
- June 2026: FPTF presents draft recommendations to the School Board
- Summer/Fall 2026: gather community input
- Early October: FPTF presents final recommendation to the School Board.
- Mid November: School Board decides whether to place a bond on the February ballot
- February, 2027: Possible election
Through their work, the FPTF has identified the following projects and priorities. Please read through the descriptions and you'll find a link to a survey to share your thoughts at the bottom of this page.
Coupeville Elementary School Replacement
Coupeville Elementary School has served generations of students for more than 60 years. While the district has made thoughtful investments over the decades to maintain and improve the campus, including classroom additions, safety upgrades, accessibility improvements, roof repairs, HVAC work, and ongoing modernization, many of the building's core systems and original spaces continue to age. The elementary campus is made up of multiple buildings constructed between 1962 and 1979, with additions added over time to meet changing needs.
Those investments have helped extend the life of the campus, but many of its original buildings and systems are now past the end of their useful life. As the district plans for the future, we are exploring the opportunity to replace Coupeville Elementary with a learning environment designed to support today's educational needs while serving students for generations to come.
The task force has determined that replacing CES is a top priority to provide a modern learning space and to address traffic and safety challenges on Main Street.
Two options for the school site have been identified. Both projects include the same building size, the same enrollment capacity, and the option for a future addition. Both would demolish the existing buildings. They are similar in cost which include siting, permitting, and associated fees. Both options keep the Multipurpose building and the newest portable, which could be utilized as a potential location for Coupeville Options Academy or other programs.
Terry Road Site
Construct a new building near the corner of Terry Road and Ebey Road, where the existing baseball and soccer fields are located.
- This project option would be less disruptive to school operations during construction.
- Disruption to athletic fields and sports during construction of new fields may occur.
- Improved parking and vehicle access points may improve traffic flow, especially on Main Street.
- Traffic may increase on Terry Road and Ebey Road, and improvements such as sidewalks would be included the project budget.
- The school district is studying if this option may require improvements to the intersection of State Route 20 and Ebey Road.
- Includes relocating the baseball field and the addition of a practice soccer field.
Existing Site
Build a new school next to the existing CES. When ready, the students would move to the new building and the old building would be demolished.
- An additional limited-access road, location to be determined, would support bus traffic and parent pick-up/drop off queueing, to support better traffic flow on Main Street.
- All athletic fields stay in their current locations.
- Construction directly adjacent to the existing school can present disruptions to learning, access to building spaces, and traffic access for the project duration.
A voter-approved bond would be necessary to provide the amount of funding needed to replace Coupeville Elementary School regardless of location.
CES Replacement Terry Road Site
CES Replacement Terry Site
CES Replacement Existing Site
Other Prioritized Projects
The Facilities Planning Task Force is also considering other capital projects as part of a bond package. Including multiple projects in one funding measure can create cost efficiencies, lock in current financing and pricing, and allow the district to get more done before returning to voters with a funding ask.
The following projects have been recommended by the Facilities Planning Task Force for consideration by the community:
- Remodel Existing Elementary Multipurpose Room/Gyms to be used for athletics or after-school activities
- Expand parking lot at Elementary Multipurpose Room/Gyms for additional parking
- Add an additional natural grass practice field at the existing Elementary School campus (If Terry site selected)
- Remodel part of the CMS/CHS Annex (Administration) Building to be used for classroom space
- Update the CMS/CHS building for improved ADA accessibility
- Add covered outdoor work space and secured fencing to the CMS/CHS Career and Technical Education (CTE) building
- Improve CMS/CHS HVAC to meet energy efficiency standards and reduce operating costs
- Remodel and expand existing CMS/CHS kitchen to add a culinary arts classroom and Farm to School prep space
- Make safety and security improvements to entries and exterior doors at CMS/CHS
- Reconfigure CMS/CHS existing learning spaces for more efficient use of space and to accommodate future programs
For the purposes of financial modeling, two example project packages have been created with estimated project costs.
| Option A | Cost | Option B | Cost | ||
| Required for Replacement of Elementary School | |||||
| Replace Elementary School (Existing site or Terry Road Site) | $88,120,000 | Replace Elementary School (Existing site or Terry Road Site) | $88,120,000 | ||
| Additional Project Options | |||||
|
Expand parking lot and stormwater management at Elementary Multi-Purpose building |
$7,060,000 | ||||
|
Add restroom facility for sports complex |
$980,000 | ||||
| HS/MS Remodel Annex Building for classroom space, add restrooms | $3,100,000 | HS/MS Remodel Annex Building for classroom space, add restrooms | $3,100,000 | ||
| HS/MS Add covered outdoor work space and secure fencing to Career Technical Education (CTE) building | $2,030,000 | HS/MS Add covered outdoor work space and secure fencing to Career Technical Education (CTE) building | $2,030,000 | ||
| HS/MS Remodel and expand existing kitchen for a Culinary Arts classroom and Farm to School prep and storage needs | $6,930,000 | HS/MS Remodel and expand existing kitchen for a Culinary Arts classroom and Farm to School prep and storage needs | $6,930,000 | ||
| HS/MS Accessibility/ADA improvements | $2,000,000 | HS/MS Accessibility/ADA improvements | $2,000,000 | ||
| HS/MS Safety and Security improvements | $2,200,000 | HS/MS Safety and Security improvements | $2,200,000 | ||
| HS/MS Improve HVAC and building systems to meet energy efficiency standards | $6,000,000 | ||||
| HS/MS Reconfigure existing learning spaces for more efficient use of space and to accommodate future programs | $2,240,000 | ||||
| Project Total | $124,340,000 | Project Total | $104,380,000 | ||
| Washington State School Construction Assistance (SCAP) offset | ($4,000,000) | Washington State School Construction Assistance (SCAP) offset | ($4,000,000) | ||
| Tentative offset pending Dept. of War Education Activity grant funding | ($25,000,000) | Tentative offset pending Dept. of War Education Activity grant funding | ($25,000,000) | ||
| Bond Amount | $95,340,000 | Bond Amount | $75,380,000 | ||
|
Bond Tax Rate Increase (per $1,000 AV) |
$1.41 | Bond Tax Rate Increase (per $1,000 AV) | $1.14 | ||
| On a home valued at $650,000 AV: | On a home valued at $650,000 AV: | ||||
| Annually | $919 | Annually | $738 | ||
| Monthly | $76.58 | Monthly | $61.50 | ||
All budgets include construction cost, escalation to 2029 (midpoint of construction), develop and siting/soft costs, and contingencies.
Tax rates are estimates and are listed per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Please share your feedback and questions around the site options for a replacement elementary school and other priority projects.
Feedback survey will close on September 20.
About the Facilities Planning Task Force
The Coupeville School District has established a Facilities Planning Task Force to help shape a long-term vision for school facilities that meet the needs of our students, staff, and community, now and into the future.
From October 2025 through October 2026, this diverse group of community members, supported by district staff and technical experts, will study the condition of district buildings, review educational and enrollment needs, explore cost and funding options, and consider community feedback.
The task force’s work will culminate in a recommendation to Superintendent Leatherwood, who will present a final proposal to the Coupeville School Board for consideration of a potential bond measure in February 2027.
This collaborative process reflects our commitment to trust, transparency, and shared stewardship of the schools that serve as the heart of our community.
Charge for the Facilities Planning Task Force
Facilities Planning Task Force Meeting Schedule
Meeting Presentations
Basics of School Funding
