Plans for new Shaw Middle School unveiled at school board meeting

The vision for public education in northeast Spokane is big and bold, with lots of windows.

That vision was shared Wednesday night with the Spokane Public Schools board of directors, who got an eyeful in a PowerPoint presentation of the new Shaw Middle School project.

Plans for northeast Spokane also include improvements at On-Track Academy and the Hillyard Library.

A $495 million bond approved last November will help pay for the work, but the planning process began even before that, with campus master planning that included input from educators, the Spokane Public Library, the Northeast Community Center Administration and the Zone Project.

The work will continue with a groundbreaking ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Board members liked what they saw Wednesday night.

“I have goosebumps,” board member Mike Wiser said. “I can’t wait to see this happening.”

Recalling design sessions that began last winter, board member Deana Brower said, “You’ve listened so well, you’ve pitched a dream and then you listened to the community and students.”

The presentation by staff from the district and from Integrus Architecture showed the project from every angle, focusing on the vision for Shaw but also including the adjoining Hillyard Library and On Track.

The project has energized the students and staff at Shaw, Principal Jon Swett told the board.

“I’ve never seen them as excited as they are right now,” Swett said. In particular, Swett noted how this design “allows staff to better relate to students.”

“We know how incredibly important it is to develop relationships with our students,” Swett said. “It’s great that we’re making these spaces more like home and more welcoming for our students.”

“Thank you for your courage to get us to this point,” Swett said.

The district also is moving ahead with a replacement for Glover Middle School, where groundbreaking for a new building is set for Oct. 10.

The bond includes funds for three new middle schools and three replacement buildings at Shaw, Glover and Sacajawea.

The district also heard from staff on its plans for the facilities at Adams Elementary, The Community School, North Central High School and the NewTech Skill Center.