Students at Coupeville Elementary School may soon have some protection from the rain and wind.

Plans are moving forward to install a covered play area, which was one of the top priorities when voters approved a construction bond several years ago.

However, plans for the covered area were put on hold until the new high school was built. With the school now open, officials have tallied the costs and it’s looking good for the elementary school project.

“We are cautiously optimistic that we will have enough money come out of the bond to pay for our covered play area,” Superintendent Patty Page said at Monday’s school board.

She recalled one of the first meetings she attended as superintendent last year where several elementary school teachers wore umbrella hats to demonstrate the need for the covered play area.

Page said the school district will look at buying designs from an architecture firm to speed up the process. She didn’t have a cost estimate yet.

She hopes work can begin this summer so it can be ready for students by fall and the beginning of the nine-month rainy season.