Board declares emergency to speed repairs after car crashes into Jefferson Elementary classroom

District facilities staff reported that on Nov. 27 a vehicle ran into a life-skills classroom at Jefferson Elementary, creating structural damage, exposed conduits and a hole in the wall that rendered specialized equipment inaccessible and displaced the students who used the room.

The board approved Resolution 996 to declare an emergency under RCW 28A.335.019, a step staff said is necessary to expedite repairs and bypass the normal competitive-bidding process so contractors can begin work immediately. A district facilities representative described the classroom as specially configured with plumbing and equipment for life-skills instruction and said displaced students have been moved to other rooms while repairs proceed.

Board members asked for clarification about how this incident differed from prior vehicle strikes at other schools. Facilities staff said the Jefferson classroom's configuration and the extent of security and electrical exposure made immediate repairs more urgent than the prior incident, which was handled through the normal bid process.

The motion to adopt Resolution 996 passed on the board floor following a mover and a second; board members voiced support and the vote to declare an emergency was recorded as in favor by those present.