Ashton Dominick, 13, plays with a Rubik’s cube during school at Park Place Middle School on Thursday in Monroe. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Ashton Dominick, 13, plays with a Rubik’s cube during school at Park Place Middle School on Thursday in Monroe. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Thousands of Monroe kids are back to school in new buildings

The new schools were built with money from a $111 million bond passed by voters in 2015.

MONROE — Nearly 2,300 students returned to classes last week in new or renovated school buildings.

School construction has been ongoing at multiple Monroe campuses over the last couple of years, and work isn’t done yet.

By next school year, two elementary schools and two middle schools will have been overhauled, including the demolition of old buildings and construction of new ones with modern classrooms, gyms, libraries and labs.

Monroe voters in 2015 approved a $111 million bond for school construction. The district also received more than $20 million in state support.

The money was for building a new Park Place Middle School and doing updates and expansions at Salem Woods Elementary, Frank Wagner Elementary and Hidden River Middle School. The bond also went to security improvements throughout the district.

Students walk to their next class between periods during school at Park Place Middle School on Thursday in Monroe. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Students walk to their next class between periods during school at Park Place Middle School on Thursday in Monroe. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

This fall, local students and teachers are celebrating the opening of three new school buildings: Park Place Middle, Salem Woods Elementary and Frank Wagner Elementary.

The Park Place ribbon cutting was last week. Events are planned for Salem Woods at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and for Frank Wagner at 10 a.m. Saturday. Also Saturday, all three schools will be open until 1 p.m. for the public to visit.

Work started last summer on the two elementary schools. It continued through the past school year, with students in the older school buildings while new ones were finished. The Park Place Middle School project started in 2016.

The new lunch area with a stage and multi-screen televisions at Park Place Middle School on Thursday in Monroe. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The new lunch area with a stage and multi-screen televisions at Park Place Middle School on Thursday in Monroe. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The new Park Place Middle School, with about 760 students, has better security, all-weather fields and a lighted track, a new auxiliary gym and a renovated main gym. It’s a $62.4 million project.

At Salem Woods, a new two-story school replaced four classroom buildings. Most of the school’s 500 students now are together in one building. There also is room for more students in the future. It’s a $23.8 million project.

Ten classrooms were added to Frank Wagner Elementary, along with a music room, improved special education spaces, a new library and a makerspace for art and science. Portables have been swapped out for permanent classrooms, and more rooms were added to prepare for growth at the school, which now has nearly 590 students.

Work also was done on the parking lot and bus area. The cost of the project is estimated at $15.7 million.

The library at Park Place Middle School on Thursday in Monroe. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The library at Park Place Middle School on Thursday in Monroe. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Teachers and parents have said the upgrades are better for security and technology and will help schools catch up with the types of learning and equipment expected in today’s classrooms.

The bond projects are not yet done. Work on Hidden River Middle School, which serves more than 440 students, started in June.

A 23,600-square-foot wing is to be built with a new common area, cafeteria, kitchen, two science classrooms, two general classrooms, an art class and a lab that can be used for lessons in science, technology, engineering, art and math.

New synthetic turf sports fields and a jogging track also are planned.

A groundbreaking ceremony is set for 1:45 p.m. Wednesday. Lincoln Construction, based in Spanaway, began the project over the summer on a $15.6 million contract. The work will continue next summer. The goal is to be done by fall 2019.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.