Facilities Advisory Committee

The Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC) researches ways to maintain and improve our buildings to meet the needs of our students, staff, and community. The group is committed to identifying solutions that are both efficient and sustainable. The FAC will provide a recommendation to the school board in fall 2026.

The FAC represents a cross-section of the Lake Chelan community. It is made up of community members, parents, business leaders, construction professionals, and school staff.

Guided by Community Input

Community members are encouraged to share their input in the community-wide facilities survey, open now. 

The Facilities Advisory Committee continues to gather community input. So far, community members have shared the importance of narrowing our focus and addressing one facility need at a time.

Morgen Owings Elementary School Facility Needs

Committee Research

The group is researching safety, maintenance, and learning environment challenges at Morgen Owings Elementary, including:

Safety

• No fire suppression sprinkler system. This is required by modern code.
• The school has no dedicated gym. Students cross a busy road daily to do PE.

Maintenance

• Despite regular maintenance, failing infrastructure has caused major structural damage such as ceiling collapses.
• Pinhole leaks in aging pipes cause structural damage and ceiling collapses.
• Faucet water is sometimes brown and odorous due to rusty, aging pipes.
• Pipes are insulated with asbestos, making repairs cumbersome and costly.
• Classrooms are heated and cooled inefficiently and unevenly because both the HVAC system and original windows do not meet modern energy efficiency codes.

Learning Environment

• Small group learning is held in repurposed closet spaces.
• Students spend a combined total of about 12 hours each year walking between class buildings, adding up to roughly two full school days of instructional time lost per year.
• Preschool is held in the alternative high school basement, reducing opportunities to build familiarity with the elementary setting before kindergarten.
• Classrooms have insufficient power outlets for modern learning technology, and teachers are using extension cords due to placement of outlets.

The FAC is studying ways to address these challenges while touring local schools like Washington Elementary and Lincoln Elementary in Wenatchee to gather information.