Highline's oldest school is also its most rundown.

According to a building evaluation of 29 Highline district schools, Sunnydale ranked worst for structural, mechanical and electrical problems.

Des Moines Elementary is most in need of replacement or repairs among schools that currently house students, according to the study

The study by Integrus Architecture is the first step in assembling a third construction bond proposal likely to be put to voters early next year.

Superintendent John Welch emphasized to board members in a work study session on March 12 that a staff recommendation on which buildings should be replaced and how much bond money should be requested will not come until fall.

The study only looked at physical condition of the buildings and did not take into account quality of programs offered in the schools.

Administrators need to figure out costs, which buildings are needed and talk to community members before presenting a recommendation, Welch added. The district has a number of interim sites that house students while their schools are being rebuilt or are used for alternative programs.

Another factor is deciding, "what's the appetite for the level of debt we would be incurring," Welch noted.

The board will discuss the district's capital facilities plan and future bond measure at a May 14 study session.

Portions of the south end of the Sunnydale building date back to 1890. Sunnydale, across Des Moines Memorial Drive from Sea-Tac International Airport's third runway, is now vacant.

Until December, students from Cedarhurst Elementary attended classes there. They moved to Sunnydale when their newly rebuilt school was unable to open in September because of a roof fire. The students returned to the new Cedarhurst in January.

Big Picture High students were transferred from Sunnydale to the Glacier site in SeaTac.

According to Integrus, Sunnydale's roof leaks during severe weather, water seeps through windows, the mechanical heating system is failing, and the plumbing system is poor.

Needed repairs at Des Moines Elementary are so major, the consultants reported, they moved it up to the top tier of buildings needing attention even though it only ranked 9th worst among the 29 buildings.

A historical landmark building with original features, the elementary's mechanical and plumbing systems are failing, according to the consultants.

They also reported water is leaking through the roof and windows, ceiling tiles are falling and the corrugated siding has holes.

Also in Tier 1, ranked as "very poor," are the Woodside site and the district's commissary warehouse.

Integrus architects also listed "critical capital improvements" in the top tier.

They told board members that even if some buildings are not placed on the bond for replacement or major renovation, the critical repairs should be done.

Eight buildings that house students are on the architects' "Tier 2-Very Poor" list.

They are Glacier, an interim site for Big Picture High; the Marine Technology Center, located at Seahurst Park; Olympic, an interim site for Aviation High until a new school is built near Boeing Field; Salmon Creek, a closed elementary now housing New Start High students; Beverly Park, an interim school for Shorewood students before they move back to their newly built school in September; Manhattan, an interim location for Midway students who will be move into their new building in September; and Highline High, originally built in 1924.

Also in Tier 2 are the Maintenance, Operations, Transportation building and the North Shorewood site.

Ranked as "Fairly Poor" in Tier 3 are Chinook Middle, Valley View Early Learning Center, Evergreen High campus, Pacific Middle, Tyee High complex, Sylvester Middle, Sunny Terrace site and Maywood site.

Southern Heights Elementary, Cascade Middle and Highline Memorial Field are listed as "Tier 4-Fair."

The consultants considered Seahurst Elementary, Puget Sound Skills Center, district headquarters, Beverly Park Elementary at Glendale and Hilltop Elementary as "adequate with critical improvements."

While the Integrus team evaluated architectural structure as well as mechanical and electrical elements, they also added a "gut check" that changed some of the rankings.

The district has already rebuilt several schools using bond funds approved by voters in two elections. Students at Shorewood, Midway and Marvista elementaries are scheduled to move into new buildings in September.

Voters would need to approve a third bond by a 60 percent "supermajority" for it to pass. The state Legislature changed the law last year to allow school levies to be passed by a simple majority.