8/28/08

District's newest school to open September 2

by Beckye Randall

When school begins September 2 in Marysville, about 400 students in kindergarten through fifth grade will be walking through the doors of a brand-new elementary school.

Grove Elementary, located at the corner of Grove Street and 67th Avenue NE, is the district’s only two-story school. According to John Bingham, capital projects manager for the district, it won’t be its last.

“This is the new prototypical design for our elementary schools,” Bingham explained. “When we build a new school or remodel an existing one, we’ll use this design as our basis.”

The school, which may eventually accommodate 550 students, features the double-decker center section flanked by two single-story units of four classrooms each. The east and west wings of the school are actually modular structures, built by Williams Scotsman, the same company that managed the construction of all the schools on the district’s Secondary Options Campus in Tulalip.

“The modulars have the same look, the same feeling, as the section that was traditionally built,” said Bingham. Except for a slight modification of floor coverings to help hide joints, there is no discernible difference in quality as you walk from the modular sections into the main building.

In addition to cost benefits, using connected modular units will allow the school’s capacity to expand if needed. A third section can be fitted to the western modular with minimal disruption.

The classrooms, which sat empty during a recent tour, are spacious and well-lit, with lots of built-ins for storage and displays. Connecting doors, which double as giant whiteboards, encourage team teaching and collaboration between classes.

The main building features a soaring entry topped with massive exposed laminated beams, lending a traditional northwest feel to the school. Administrative and counseling areas are well-designed to serve students and visitors while maintaining an attractive work area for the staff.

The gym doubles as a cafeteria and an auditorium, complete with a large stage at one end. Movable walls will allow the large area to be shared for different functions.

Outdoor play equipment was purchased with help from the Marysville Rotary. The playfields surrounding the school, which sits on 10 acres, are not limited by drainage retention ponds, thanks to innovative engineering that employs an underground water collection system.

“The district hires an independent commissioning company to ensure we get everything the public paid for,” said Bingham. In fact, the school’s construction costs came in under its $20 million budget.

The new school has a new staff, headed by principal Jeanne Tennis, the former principal of Quil Ceda Elementary. Jan Knowles, Grove’s office manager, also comes from the Quil Ceda school.

Sorting through stacks of boxes sitting in hallways, Knowles said, “This is just the tip of the iceberg. Once the furniture and supplies arrive, they will fill up the gym.”

Bingham agreed with Knowles, adding, “The public doesn’t see all the behind-the-scenes work that goes on to open a new school. The actual construction is just one part of it. There’s an amazing amount of work to do to equip and furnish the classrooms, the library, the offices and cafeteria, so the building actually serves students.”

Marysville School District has gained international recognition for its innovative school designs and curriculum. This summer Bingham and assistant superintendent Gail Miller traveled to London as presenters at the British Education Council’s annual conference, sharing their insights into facilities construction and curriculum development.

“They [conference attendees] were very interested in how we do things here, from our funding process to the development of SLCs (small learning communities),” said Bingham. “In Europe, education is highly regimented by the government, and local communities have almost no flexibility to make their own decisions.”

Students at the new Grove Elementary School will come from Kellogg-Marsh and Allen Creek schools, with a few from Pinewood Elementary as well. The district has another primary school in its sights, to be located on recently-purchased property in the Sunnyside area on 44th Street and 71st Avenue.

Thanks to a number of economic and administrative controls, the $118 million bond approved by voters in 2006 will pay for the completion of all intended projects with some funds left over. Those surplus monies may be redirected only with citizen review, public hearings and board approval.