Moses Lake School District tours sites

MOSES LAKE — They may be dirt and rocks now, but one of the three properties could become the location of Moses Lake's first new elementary school.

The Moses Lake School Board toured the district-owned sites Thursday. The architect requested the school board select a site for an elementary school within the next three weeks. Construction is to be paid for with the sale of voter-approved bonds. Two elementary schools are planned, in addition to other improvements.

Officials looked at an 11-acre location site at Lakeshore Drive and Hermit Road.

"Compared to a lot of sites, this is relatively flat and level," said Special Assistant to the Superintendent P.J. De Benedetti.

A second property at the south end of Paxon Drive, is slightly under 10 acres in size. De Benedetti said the site is more square than the other sites.

"The architect liked the shape of this property the best because it's symmetrical," said Superintendent Steve Chestnut.

A third site, off Yonezawa Boulevard, is the largest at 60 acres. It sits behind Moses Lake High School.

The architect liked the size of the property but was concerned with the cost of filling in a large hole and compacting it enough to support a foundation, De Benedetti said.

A fourth site, located in Cascade Valley, is owned by the district but not being considered because of its remote location, Chestnut said.