School Whidbey School District board members did not move to act on a proposal from Whidbey Island Community Education Center to lower the expected increase of rent at the old Bayview School, during a regular meeting Aug. 28.

Duncan Ferguson, chair of the WICEC board, asked to lower the increase of rent from $1,500 a month to $1,000 a month. The previous lease agreement set rent at $500 a month. The rent increase will begin Sept. 1.

Ferguson said the group is a young organization with few resources, but has great potential. He said the group is prepared to pay the rent at the set increase, but it will be a strain for some of the organization’s partners. He said the organization would like to stay at the Bayview School.

The education center, along with its partners at the old school, are together known as the Bayview Learning Cooperative. The partners include the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, New Stories and Lauryn Taylor Contemporary Art.

Superintendent Jo Moccia said the increase has been known for six months. She said the organization needs to provide active and specific plans to offer “in-kind” services to assist the district in its mission.

The next school board meeting will take place Wednesday, Sept. 11 in the board room at South Whidbey Academy, 5476 S. Maxwelton Road.