State Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, recently visited the Toutle Lake School District to assess aging school buildings and discuss how the state can better support rural communities facing unique facility and infrastructure needs.

The visit included both the elementary and middle/high school facilities, which serve just under 700 students on a single rural K-12 campus. District leaders outlined pressing structural and maintenance needs, safety priorities, and long-term plans to modernize their buildings.

Abbarno, who serves as the assistant ranking member of the House Capital Budget Committee, said the tour underscored the disparities between rural and urban districts in addressing aging school infrastructure.

“Toutle Lake is doing a great job with the resources available, but rural schools often face very different challenges than larger districts,” said Abbarno, House Republican Caucus Chair. “If we’re serious about providing safe and modern learning environments for every student in Washington, then we need to make sure state support reflects the realities of communities like this.”

He added that on-the-ground visits provide legislators with critical insights beyond written reports.

“When you walk the halls with the people who maintain these buildings every day, you see what they’re up against,” Abbarno added. “That perspective is essential when we make decisions about statewide construction investments.”

The tour was organized through the Washington Association of Maintenance and Operations Administrators’ (WAMOA) 2025 legislative school visit program. It included representatives from OSPI and statewide school facility design and construction organizations.

Abbarno said the information gathered will help guide budget discussions during the upcoming legislative session as lawmakers consider school construction priorities across the state.