October Updates
An update on planning for Coupeville Elementary
Thank you, Coupeville. Over the past few months, so many of you shared your ideas, hopes and concerns about the future of our elementary school. We read your emails and letters, and we heard you at open houses and community presentations. That input shaped every step of this work.
Narrowing the options was always a planned step in this process. The first phase was designed to explore sites, gather community input, and use that input to determine how to proceed in a way that best supports students.
On Oct. 1, the Facilities Planning Task Force made two decisions:
- We'll focus on one site, our current elementary school. The Terry Road site is no longer being considered.
- We'll rework the plan for our current site. The plan as it's drawn today isn't good enough yet.
We know many families are disappointed, and some are frustrated. Many of you supported Terry Road because you want a safer school for your kids. We want that too, and we want you to know how this decision was made.
How the task force decided
The task force reviewed the themes shared by our community. That feedback highlighted significant challenges with building at Terry Road. The task force determined that pursuing that site would likely tie the project up for years before we could build.
A new elementary school is a once-in-a-generation project, and it deserves the time to get it right. Now we can spend that time making one site the best it can be, instead of still deciding which site to choose.
What comes next
The task force will rework the plan for our current site around what families told us matters most:
- Keeping students safe and away from busy roads
- Limiting disruption to learning during construction
- Improving traffic for buses and families
Those goals don't go away with Terry Road. They're now the standard any plan has to meet.
Because the plan is being reworked, the task force will not recommend a bond for February 2027. Any bond is a decision for the School Board.
Questions we're hearing
Who made this decision?
The Facilities Planning Task Force made it at its Oct. 1 meeting, after reviewing community feedback.
Is the conversation over?
No. This decision narrows the focus to one site. It doesn't end community input. We'll share more chances to weigh in as the new plan takes shape this winter.
What about the safety concerns that made Terry Road appealing?
They're at the top of the list. Families named real concerns, including traffic, nearby roads and keeping students away from construction. The reworked plan has to answer them.
How can I share my thoughts now?
Email communications@coupeville.k12.wa.us
Thank you
Not everyone will agree with every decision. Our promise is to keep you informed, keep listening, and keep our kids at the center of this work. Thank you for caring so much about our schools.