EDMONDS — Parents clutched their children’s hands as they rushed toward the new classrooms.
Once inside, they were greeted by bright, clean walls and large windows. Touches of light green paint and fabric adorn the hallways. It’s the same color that shows through when the red bark peels from a madrona tree.
Students moved into the Madrona K-8 School in Edmonds on Monday. The building has been under construction for more than a year on the south end of Edmonds. It was supposed to open in fall.
Work was delayed because of a dispute between the Edmonds School District and the Olympic View Water and Sewer District. The two parties went to mediation and came to an agreement in late August.
As students arrive Monday at the new Madrona K-8 School in Edmonds, work continues on the landscaping. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Kids started the school year at the former Alderwood Middle School, about 10 miles away. That commute was the most difficult part of the situation, said Rabei Fakkar. His daughter, Nafissa Fakkar, is in second grade at Madrona.
She was most looking forward to the new gym and playground. She’s been going to the school since kindergarten.
Madrona is an option school without enrollment boundaries.
Classrooms include children who are in multiple grades. That’s one of the main reasons Rabei Fakkar wanted to send his daughter there.
Nafissa Fakkar has a heart condition and will need to get surgery in a couple of years, her father said. He believes she’ll be able to catch up on schoolwork after recovery more easily in this sort of environment.
The new space is designed especially for Madrona’s instructional needs.
“We have made buildings work for our unique program,” Principal Kathleen Hodges said.
About 30 students are deaf or hard of hearing. Digital clocks in each room have lights that flash when there’s an announcement so everyone knows. A written message is then displayed in place of the time.
As students begin to arrive Monday at the new Madrona K-8 School in Edmonds, one thing is clear. The madrona tree is a big hit with the heart in the center and all the hand written words that students and staff chose to represent their most desired attributes. (Dan Bates / Herald Staff Photographer
Teachers asked for a space to give lessons outside, so each classroom has a door that leads to one of six courtyards. Every entry point to the school also can be locked with a single switch.
Younger and older kids have options when it’s time for recess, said Michael Nelson, the school district’s construction project coordinator.
The students created models of what they wanted to see in the playground before it was built. Most included a slide with tubes that roll the person down to the bottom. The equipment is included in the actual design, but it isn’t finished yet.
“It’s sitting there. The kids can see it,” Nelson said. “Maybe we should box that up for now so it’s not a teaser.”
Water at the school was turned on a couple weeks ago. The new building is about 80,000 square feet, and cost nearly $50 million. It’s on the same property as the old structure.
On Monday morning, families were greeted by crews still working on the landscape. The fresh playground is surrounded by dirt. Grass seed is expected to be planted in spring.
Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.
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