Construction Projects

2020 Levy Construction Projects

Summer 2022 Construction Update
In February 2020, district voters approved a $23.7 million dollar capital levy to AHS support building and facility improvements across the district. The levy improvements are intended to meet one or more of the following goals:

• Provide adequate classroom space for instructional programs.
• Improve the efficiency of building support systems like Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and electrical services.
• Increase the useful lifespan of existing school buildings or facilities.
• Improve safety and security at instructional sites.

Levy-funded improvements completed to date include:

• Construction of secure entryways at the main entrance of Kent Prairie and AHS Eagle Creek Elementary Schools, Haller Middle School, and Arlington High School. An exterior secure entry and security fencing installations were completed at Post Middle School.
• Installation of quick-action classroom door locks, access card systems, and video camera systems at all instructional buildings.
• New floor coverings throughout Kent Prairie Elementary.

Currently underway at Arlington High School is:

• The construction of a nine-classroom addition with an expanded Life Skills suite, new tech workshop classroom, and general education classrooms.
• A scene shop attached to the Byrnes Performing Arts Center to support the theater arts program.

COVID-19 and supply chain complications have extended the completion of Construction the high school improvements, but we are anticipating occupying the new spaces later this summer for use in the 2022-23 school year.

Projects planned for the summer of 2022 include:

• At Arlington High School (AHS), remodel the current Life Skills suite and classroom to provide a new home for the school's Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) program and a new science classroom. The completion of this project signifies a new home for AFJROTC inside the AHS building.
• Construct secure entryways at Presidents and Pioneer Elementary schools and Weston High School.
• Install new floor coverings throughout Eagle Creek Elementary. Currently, this building has the same floor coverings that were installed in 1989!
• Install two new boilers at Kent Prairie Elementary.
• Build a new queuing lane at Kent Prairie Elementary and other pedestrian safety improvements at the site.
• Install a new track surface at Arlington High School. The existing track surface was built in 2003 with the construction of Arlington High School and had an estimated life span of 10 years when built. It's a testament to the skill and care of Arlington staff that the track has lasted as long as it has, but the time has come for its replacement.

While we hope to complete these improvements during the summer construction window, there is always the possibility that supply chain and COVID-19 related issues can delay the completion of projects.

There are several projects remaining in the levy program that district staff will continue to pursue in the 2022-23 school year. The district's Facilities Advisory Committee will also continue to meet over the coming school year to revise the Facilities Master Plan and consider future needed facilities improvements. Thanks to all staff and community supporting the district in making our students' instructional spaces safer and better.

Summer 2021 Construction Update
The district’s project team and contractors continue their school improvement work in 2021. In April, ground was broken at Arlington High School to add classrooms to the building’s C-Wing. The classroom addition will include a new technology workshop and eight classrooms to support a growing student population and provide additional high-tech education opportunities. Other work underway at the Arlington High School site includes: Footing

• Installation of a secured entryway at the building’s main entry;
• Construction of a scene shop addition at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center;
• Repainting of metal exterior steel surfaces like doors, soffits, and structural steel columns; and
• Application of exterior masonry sealant and anti-graffiti coating to exterior walls. AHS

Kassel & Associates of Redmond, WA is the general contractor.
This summer will also see the construction of secured entryways at Haller Middle School, Kent Prairie Elementary, and Eagle Creek Elementary and continued installation of security cameras, improved classroom door locks, and access control systems at all school sites.

Kent Prairie Elementary Flooring Replacement- July 2020
In February 2020, Arlington Public Schools' voters approved a four-year Capital Levy to provide resources for school building improvement projects. One of those projects is replacing the flooring in Kent Prairie Elementary throughout the building, including classrooms, common areas (library and hallways), offices, and the multipurpose room.

KP Carpet Arlington Public Schools is a member of the KCDA purchasing cooperative. KCDA has conducted a competitive bid process on behalf of all members. The proposed purchase meets the competitive bid requirements embedded in District policy.

Total project costs are estimated to be $440,960, including tax. The original budget for this project was $540,000.

Post Middle School Fence Installation- July 2020
In February 2020, Arlington School District voters approved a four-year capital levy to fund a wide range of capital improvements to the district's school facilities. One of these improvements is the installation of fencing at the Post Middle School site.

Post Fencing The Post Middle School site is difficult to secure. The site is comprised of a series of distributed buildings, disconnected from one another and not served by interior hallways. Access to instructional areas is virtually unimpeded, whether on foot or in a vehicle. Access to classrooms is via exterior doors for staff, students, and visitors and there is no structural way to bar access to classroom doors on the perimeter of the building. Additionally, due to the open nature of the site, students and visitors to the school are not compelled to enter the school through a single point of entry. Controlled access using a single point of entry allows school staff to vet visitors, complete a National Sex Offender registry check, compare visitor names to exclusion lists based on protection orders, and record their presence on campus. Even though the COVID-19 crisis may be limited in duration, without the controlled access provided by a secure entry, documenting visitor presence to allow comprehensive contract tracing will prove difficult.

In 2019, school staff engaged with a fencing contractor and building administrators to create a fencing plan to accomplish several goals:

- Control access to the interior and exterior areas of the school site, while still creating a welcoming environment. This is primarily accomplished by using decorative fencing in areas that are the most public facing.

- Allow for expedited egress from the school during an emergency situation. Gates equipped with crash-bar latching hardware interspersed throughout the field of fencing are used throughout the district to create this expedited egress.

- Create an exterior single point of entry so visitors to the school would be allowed access to the school only after registering as a visitor with main office staff. Providing this single point of entry at Post will help bring equity to the school as it will provide benefits similar to other APS school buildings who are planned to receive secure entryways also funded by the Capital Levy.

- Allow authorized school bus access to the loop driveway surrounding the building complex while not requiring transportation employees to exit a school bus to open and close gates. Maintenance and grounds staff and first responders will also be able to access the loop driveway using the same devices as buses.

The designer consulted with school staff throughout the design process. The incoming site administrator has also reviewed the plan.

Capital Levy Planning Underway- June 2020 Update
In February 2020, Arlington School District voters approved a Capital Levy to Levy fund construction of classrooms at Arlington High School and make security and utility efficiency improvements across the district. While the current COVID-19 crisis has changed the short term nature of providing public education, we are confident that students and staff will return to our buildings in the future. The relevance of the projects funded by the Capital Levy remains.
District staff are working to make those projects a reality. Planning began in April to begin projects this summer. First up are carpet replacement at Kent Prairie Elementary, construction of secured entryways at Kent Prairie and Eagle Creek Elementary Schools, and installation of security cameras at Arlington High School, Post Middle School, and Haller Middle School. McGranahan Architects and Owyen Consulting (project management) are working with the district with the goal of completing these projects before the anticipated start of school in September 2020.
Arlington Public Schools is grateful for the voters’ trust in the February election. The improvements will add much needed instructional space and make our school buildings more secure so they will be ready when students return.