BLAINE, Wash. – The Blaine school board is making progress in their quest to purchase a Birch Bay property for the use of a new school.

The Northern Light reports that in their February 27th meeting, the board passed a recommendation to hire professional consultants to advise in their search for a qualified location.

This is the first action taken since a school board meeting in late 2021 where it was stated the district had started the search for a property.

The district hopes to create a new elementary school to accommodate a growing Birch Bay community that has seen an increase of 1,700 residents in the last decade.