Cle Elum-Roslyn School District to Host Facilities Planning Work Session Monday, November 10th, 2025.
The Cle Elum-Roslyn School District will hold a Board Work Session on Monday, November 10th, at 6:00 p.m. at the District Office (former Swiftwater High School space) to review next steps in addressing the district’s facility and capacity challenges.
During this session, the Board of Directors will hear an update from district leaders and ALSC Architects on the Facilities Use Committee’s recommendation to remodel the current high school into a combined 7–12 campus. This approach, first presented to the Board in June 2025, was developed after nearly two years of community-based study and analysis of enrollment trends, aging infrastructure, and long-term educational needs.
Why a 7–12 Campus?
The Facilities Committee explored several options—including constructing stand-alone middle- or high-school buildings—but found that the cost of operating and staffing separate campuses would far exceed the district’s sustainable budget capacity.
A remodeled, state-of-the-art 7–12 campus would instead allow the district to modernize existing spaces, create clear separation between middle- and high-school students, and reduce long-term operational costs. The plan also supports more collaboration in specialized areas such as science, music, and career and technical education, while maintaining safe, age-appropriate boundaries.
Superintendent John Belcher emphasized that the model is not new to Washington schools and that student crossover already exists in ways that are managed safely—shared transportation, performance spaces, and elective courses. “We’ve already shown that our staff can manage age differences effectively,” Belcher said. “This plan builds on that success with even stronger design separation and modern learning environments for all students.”
Other Campus Improvements
In addition to the 7–12 concept, ALSC Architects will share a Master Plan update highlighting progress on projects identified by the Facilities Committee and new ideas emerging from staff and community input. These include improvements to site circulation, athletic facilities, and other infrastructure needs that go beyond the high-school remodel.
Community Input and Future Decisions
This work session is an informal opportunity for community members to hear the Board’s discussion and ask clarifying questions before any decisions are made. No votes will occur that evening, but the conversation will help guide next steps as the district evaluates whether to pursue a future bond measure to modernize facilities and address capacity district-wide.
“As our community grows and our buildings age, we have to plan responsibly for the next 30 years,” said Belcher. “We invite everyone to come see what the future could look like and share in the discussion.”
Meeting Details
Board Work Session: Facilities Planning Update
When: Monday, November 10th, at 6:00 p.m.
Location: District Office - 4244 Bullfrog Road,
Cle Elum, WA 98922
More information and background documents: www.cersd.org/page/facilities-use-committee