La Conner School District officials turned their attention this week to anticipated long-term campus facility needs that will likely require significant grant funding.

Superintendent David Cram and district staffer Toby Walls presented a detailed facilities report to the school board during a Feb. 10 study session. Many of the proposed upgrades would target the district’s half-century-old high school building.

The estimated total cost for improvements — including electrical, lighting, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems upgrades, roof replacements, and resurfacing of parking lots and the Whittaker Field track — exceeds $10 million.

“There are some pretty substantial projects that we have here,” Cram said.

Roughly three-quarters of the funding would be allocated to the high school, which opened in late 1974. At the time, the building was lauded for its unique round design with the library serving as the building’s hub. 

Cram said the district applied last spring for a School Construction Assistance Program Grant to fund the upgrades. Officials expect a decision on the request soon.

“Our hope,” Cram said, “is we’ll get funding support from the grant. We’re hoping to get funding through the grant we applied for, but it can be a time-consuming process.”

The board will hold its next meeting at 5 p.m. Feb. 24 in the District Administration Building on Sixth Street.

Bill Reynolds is an announcer for the La Conner High School football and basketball games. He is paid on a per game basis. Reynolds also covers the La Conner School District for La Conner Community News.