Wilson Elementary set for major remodel as school district listens to parents and staff
Thanks to some outside-the-box thinking from Spokane Public Schools, one of the district’s oldest buildings is poised to receive a comprehensive remodel within the next 18 months.
Wilson Elementary School was scheduled to receive additional classrooms funded by a bond approved in 2015.
However, earlier this year, associate superintendent Mark Anderson and district staff forwarded a plan to build a new gym/cafeteria complex while causing no additional disruption to the 90-year-old South Hill school.
Either way, students would spend next school year at the old Jefferson Elementary building while Wilson is being renovated.
Moreover, the combined project would save between $1 million and $1.5 million over doing the projects separately, Anderson said.
A final decision from the board of directors is expected during its next meeting March 11, but the larger project received overwhelming support Wednesday night from a large group of Wilson parents and staff.
The district also received credit for seizing the opportunity to save money by combining the projects.
“I want to commend the leadership that you have demonstrated, and I’m really impressed with the fiduciary responsibility you have had,” said Kevin Eddy, who has three children at Wilson.
Because the gym/cafeteria combo wasn’t specified in the 2015 bond, state law required Wednesday’s public hearing.
The gym/cafeteria upgrade includes a net gain of six classrooms along with the larger gym/cafeteria.
Additional funding will come from $3 million in local capital funds and $600,000 in state funds, the latter because the existing gym will be rebuilt, not merely renovated.
Movement toward the larger project began last fall, when the district began designing and conducting staff and community outreach related to original project.
At the same time, community and staff had expressed concern over the size of the existing gymnasium/cafeteria with the addition of eight more classrooms.