Over the years the Coupeville Middle and High School has undergone several modernizations to continue serving the needs of the community.

However, the years of use have left some district officials to consider how much longer the building will be functional.

“The high school was built in 1934 and it’s truly showing it’s age,” said Pope Awe, maintenance director for the Coupeville School District.

He said that the most daunting problem with the high school, and other school district buildings, is leaky roofs.

At the high school, Awe cites the flat roof and the lack of drainage as the causes of the leaks.

“It fills up like a bathtub,” Awe said, and added that the water buildup on the roof causes both leaks and deterioration of the structure.

He received several roof repair bids that haven’t been acted on and would cost the district approximately $85,000. Awe said a new roof is necessary to protect recent technology upgrades the district has made.

In a recent presentation to the school board, Awe pointed out that the majority of the plumbing fixtures in the high school don’t work and need to be replaced.

He said that the school administration and board have to start discussing the future of the high school building.

Coupeville School District Superintendent Bill Myhr said that the district is in the process of applying for a state grant that would pay for a survey that would document the condition of district buildings.

“We won’t have to use local dollars to find out what our needs are,” Myhr said in a Friday interview.

He said this would be the first step toward a possible bond election. He added that the school board needs to approve the grant application and that public input needs to be taken before any decisions are made.

Awe also rattled off a list of the district’s maintenance needs at a recent board meeting.

A corner of the elementary school has rotted from water damage and needs to be replaced. He added that there are several dead trees near the elementary school that need to be removed and replaced.

The roofs at several modular buildings also need to be replaced, the scoreboard and the lighting at the athletic field need to be repaired, the weight room needs to be expanded, and, according to Awe, the district administration is going to need new facilities.

Awe said the biggest factor contributing to the district’s maintenance problems is a lack of funding. He added that he has to prioritize his projects and only tackle the most serious problems first.

You can reach News-Times reporter Nathan Whalen at nwhalen@whidbeynewstimes.com or 675-6611.