As of this spring, the Renton School District has begun buying property in North Renton around the former Sartori Education Center for the creation of a new elementary school.

The homes and businesses on the site are being purchased with funds from a past bond measure. The district intends to build two new elementary schools and complete other school improvement projects around the district with another proposed bond measure, if it is placed on the Feb. 9, 2016, ballot.

The bond measure has yet to be approved by the Renton School Board of Directors, but that approval is expected later this fall.

Recently district spokesperson Randy Matheson was asked to speak at a North Renton Neighborhood Association meeting to explain the district’s intentions and timeline. A timeline has not been set yet, but it is the district’s hope to have the North Renton elementary school built as soon as possible after a successful bond measure.

The process has involved looking at existing district-owned property, expanding current sites by purchasing houses or businesses immediately adjacent to district property and looking for land to purchase that could be developed into a school site.

According to a September press release, building on existing land, and even purchasing adjacent property to expand a district-owned site, is much more cost effective than buying new land and developing it into a school site.

Another elementary school is proposed for the Evergreen Floral site located adjacent to the Secondary Learning Center in the Skyway neighborhood.

“Elementary schools are full, but not over capacity,” Matheson said in an email. “The two elementary schools are needed to help accommodate current students and the growth that is projected over the next 10 years.”

That district reports that the student population has been growing by 200 students consistently for the past five years.

In North Renton, there are 11 homes and one small grocery store in the block surrounding the former Sartori Education Center.The site is just over three acres and is centrally located in an area of growth, according to the district.

In May, Assistant Superintendent John Knutson presented two purchase and sale agreements for the grocery store and office buildings adjacent to the district transportation center. The school board approved both agreements, 5 to 0.

According to Matheson, so far, the buying of property in the neighborhood has been “very good.”

The Renton Reporter reached out to the North Renton Neighborhood Association for comment, but received none at press time.