Seven new double-sized portable classrooms are up for discussion at the Jan. 24 meeting of the Snoqualmie Valley School Board. Originally on the board’s consent agenda for the Jan. 10 meeting, the portables were moved to the main agenda for further discussion by the board.

Six of the portables are intended for placement at Twin Falls Middle School and Chief Kanim Middle School, three each, to accommodate next year’s additional students from the former Snoqualmie Middle School. The seventh structure would go to Cascade View Elementary School, where enrollment is currently at 650 FTE students, and slightly more in actual students, because of half-day Kindergarten.

“Most of our schools have about 20 or 25 percent of their capacity sitting in portables,” said Business Director Ryan Stokes.

Board members delayed a decision on the purchase to examine the possibility of relocating existing portables from the high school, which has 19 classrooms in portables. Most of the district’s portable classrooms, 33, are located at the five elementary schools, with eight at the Two Rivers School, and three at Snoqualmie Middle School.

If purchased, the new structures would bring the district’s portable classroom count to 66 — some of the portables are used as office space, too. Twin Falls Middle School, which opened in 2008, would get its first portable classrooms.

Cost of the seven portables, including siting and installation, is estimated at $1.8 million. Stokes said the portables under discussion are upgraded with sturdier roofing and siding, so they are more durable for the area’s weather.

Following a December “opt-in” period to allow students in the Twin Falls district to enroll in Chief Kanim Middle School instead, the district is expecting about 740 students at each middle school next year.

The school board meets at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 24, at Snoqualmie City Hall.