The dotted line indicates the Ridgeline Trail, proposed north of the high school and middle school campus.

Retired teacher John Meyer asked the Seaside School District board of directors to look in their own backyard for educational resources for high school and middle school students. Meyer proposed opening trails above the school campus on Spruce Drive for athletes, students and community members.

The Ridgeline Trail, just under a mile, would begin at the northeast corner of the track field and follow a slight grade up the small hill to the gravel road, Meyer said in his proposal, delivered at the Aug. 16 board meeting.

“It’s using what we have to impact the most people and good and the idea with a trail around our high school and middle school,” Meyer said. “We’re looking at a kind of a blank canvas of raw dirt.”

The trail would follow the existing logging road along the northern perimeter of the logged property. The trail would vary from 4 feet to 8 feet wide on packed gravel and dirt. A cedar bridge would connect back to the existing logging track up to the fire hydrant on the eastern access road.

Meyer, a former fifth grade teacher with the district, said existing roads comprise 40% to 45% of the proposed land. Other parts cross filled dirt on the north side down to the playing field. There would be no infringement or impact on Coho Creek drainage or existing wetland areas, he said. Some of the section follows existing elk and deer trails.

With its proximity to the school track, a small stone patio and coaching deck would provide cross country coaches an observation place to time their runners mid-race, Meyer said. “With the views that we have up here, I could see this becoming a really significant cross-country ticket to say, ‘Look, we’ve got a ripping trail for our kids for sports. ’It’s a beautiful setup, because as a parent, you want to see your kid.”

Students who are engaged in more hands-on and outdoor science experience succeed at a higher rate than just classroom instruction, added Meyer. “Our access to a variety of ecological systems for our science instruction by having a ready trail system out our backdoor is amazing,” he said.

The trails would also benefit the community, who already use the lower trails around the elementary school, he said. Sunset Hills and Cooper Street residents using the trails already would benefit from the expansion effort as well.

“I’m counting hundreds and hundreds of people who would benefit,” Meyer said. “We can all enjoy the beautiful views and a beautiful trail up to the school. That’s a win.”

He said the trail would be funded by community businesses and individuals who have committed to donate time, money, and manual labor to the trail venture.

The cost of operating a small Bobcat tractor for a proposed three weeks cutting off the trail has been met, Meyer said. The machine has been donated and the contractor who operates it is licensed and insured with a $2 million bond.

The school district would not be liable for any cost of an accident during construction, Meyer said.

Financial sponsors who donate $100 or more will have a stone engraved and placed at the coaches’ patio. A live music fundraiser has been planned for September.

Susan Penrod, the district superintendent, asked if the proposed trail area was available and safe for the proposed uses. “I think it would be important to determine if any of that path is protected land,” she said.

Costs for the due diligence process are yet to be determined, Penrod said.

Portions of the proposed area may have other limitations, school district building consultant Brian Hardebeck said. “I caution: Look at that map before moving forward.”

Geotechnical studies would also be necessary, board chairman Brian Taylor said.

Taylor asked for exploratory research to check out the trails from a professional perspective.

Board member Chris Corder said the project could benefit the entire community.

“I really hope that we as a board can support something like this to try to find the avenues to make it happen,” Corder said. “There’s so much good to it and so little risk involved. Hopefully the right people can get on the page and make it easy for people that want to volunteer their time, money and efforts to make something like this happen.”

Board members Corder, Taylor, Mark Truax and Brian Owen approved the Ridgeline Trail request pending due diligence on geotechnical issues and protected lands, with the district to cover the cost of the due diligence.

Michelle Hawken, Sandra Gomez and Shannon Swedenborg were absent.