High school some feel 'should be condemned' hopes fifth levy is the charm

TOLEDO, Wash. — Stepping into Toledo High School you feel like you’re back in the 1970s. Since then, not much has changed structurally and the building is starting to fall apart around students and staff.

“Some folks felt like this really should be a condemned building,” said Superintendent Chris Rust.

From the outside, the brick building doesn’t look bad, but looks can be deceiving.

Inside, avocado green cabinets and retro chairs are eye-catching. A closer look shows cracks in the cinderblock, rotten walls and ceiling tiles that are stained black from years of leaks.

“I haven’t had it tested (for mold). I don’t know, but it doesn’t look good,” said art teacher Ron Gaul.

Rust said the building went up in 1974. These days, a lot isn’t up to code. Electric cables hang from the ceiling and walls are paper thin.

He’s afraid the school would crumble if there’s another earthquake.

“In most places what we teach people is drop, cover and hold, here we teach them get out, get away,” said Rust.

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Since 2014, voters in Toledo have rejected four school levies. Rust said it’s different this time because they’re hoping to build a new school, which means they’d get more money from the state.

If this levy passes in November, the district would get $18 million from Washington, the new $10 million coming from a distressed schools grant and the other $8 million from the School Construction Assistance Program. Taxpayers would foot the remaining $7 million bill.

“It works out to about $1 per $1,000 for a homeowner,” said Rust.

Teachers are frustrated students have to live like this.

“I’m most angry for the kids because I have some of the greatest kids here,” said English teacher Jim Echtle. “My kids do hours of community service and I just think it’s time for the community to take care of them.”

Many believe a new school would be life-changing for kids.

“If all the planets line up properly, we could have a new building in the fall of 2020,” said Rust.

Rust stresses time is running out because $10 million of the state’s grant expires in June. If voters don’t pass the levy in November, the money could go to another school district.

Cox Media Group