The Renton School District board voted on September 9 to increase funding for the new Renton High School by $5.3 million. The additional money is earmarked for early procurement of heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning (HVAC) equipment, allowing the district to lock in prices and ensure timely installation when the building is ready.
Project background and timeline
The replacement campus will be a three‑story, 350,000‑square‑foot facility slated to open in the fall of 2029. Construction began in June 2026 with the first phase focused on site work, demolition and fire‑suppression systems. Earlier in May, the board approved a $13.3 million increase for those same early‑phase items.
According to a district memorandum, the new HVAC procurement increase is intended to pre‑order critical equipment well before installation, reducing the risk of cost overruns and supply‑chain delays. Bids for the entire project are scheduled to open later this fall.
Financial context
The capital‑project fund that finances the high‑school replacement generates revenue through local taxes and interest income. For the fiscal year ending July 31 2026, the fund produced $38 million, with $29.7 million coming directly from local tax levies.
Construction costs have risen sharply. The district reported $74.2 million in construction expenses for the 2025‑2026 fiscal year, nearly double the $42.4 million spent the year before. Land acquisition and site‑improvement costs reached $22.2 million, primarily to secure the parcels needed for the new campus.
Impact on the community
School officials—Chief of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Dr. Jon Stadler, along with school chiefs John Schmitz and Gioia Pitts—stressed that ongoing construction across the district is creating challenges for students and staff. The early HVAC purchase is presented as a proactive step to keep the project on schedule and avoid future disruptions.
Community members can follow the project’s progress on the district’s website at rentonschools.us. The board will continue to monitor costs and provide updates at future meetings.
Original reporting: Renton Reporter — read the source article.
