Tumwater School District adopts 2026-32 Capital Facilities Plan 

The Tumwater School District (TSD) Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution to adopt the 2026-32 Capital Facilities Plan after holding a public hearing on the issue. 

The plan is an annual evaluation of TSD’s capital facilities, focusing on a school’s capacity to accommodate population growth.

The plan assesses the impact of enrollment growth on schools, and plans to ensure adequate facilities can be provided to meet additional demand. 

Alec Burkheimer, Director of Capital Projects and Facilities, presented the six-year plan at an Oct. 26 TSD Board of Directors meeting, after a previous public hearing on Oct. 22.

Burkheimer said the public hearing was reopened due to the board meeting being rescheduled. There were no on-site commenters during both meetings. 

Burkheimer showcased facilities that were upgraded in the schools during the summer 2026, including LED lighting, flooring at common grounds and accessible ramps. 

For summer 2027, projects include a multi-purpose room at East Olympia Elementary and new playground equipment at Tumwater Hill Elementary. Other elementary schools are in line to have playgrounds upgraded in 2028. 

“After the first year, we are putting together a facility advisory committee so we can go ahead and look at … primary needs in secondary schools, focused on secondary plans and modernization of middle schools,” Burkheimer said. 

School impact fees (one-time charges to help pay for capital facilities) in the district will continue to align with expected growth.

New single-family residences with three bedrooms or more are charged $4,959, while multi-family developments with two bedrooms or more are charged $1,028 per unit.

According to the district’s plan, there are 1,159 new single-family house lots and 3,822 new multi-family units that are undergoing city and county review or being built. The new housing developments are expected to drive 1,058 new K-12 students into the district. 

“Tumwater School District retains its reputation as (a) desirable place for families to live and raise children. This is due in part to the quality of education the (district) provides,” the plan states. 

After adoption of the plan, the plan will be sent to Thurston County and City of Tumwater for inclusion in their Capital Facilities Plans. The district’s Capital Fund Budget for 2027 is $11,520,000.