Frank Wagner Elementary Modernization
Completed September 2018
Originally built in 1990, Frank Wagner Elementary had long struggled with limited space and outdated facilities. Due to increasing enrollment, eight classrooms of students were placed in portable buildings, and the campus lacked its own library. Instead, students had to walk outside through a field to the neighboring Wagner Center to access library resources.
The project, which broke ground in June 2017, added 33,729 square feet of new construction to the existing 38,204 square-foot facility. A new two-story addition was built and connected to the school’s existing two-story classroom wing. This addition included 10 permanent classrooms arranged in pods around shared learning spaces to encourage collaboration. It also housed a new library with an adjoining makerspace for art, science, and digital learning, along with new special education spaces and a relocated main office.
For student safety, the project introduced indoor hallways in place of outdoor routes, along with fencing around the perimeter of the entire campus. A new outdoor courtyard provided space for learning and recreation. Site improvements included a dedicated bus loop separated from the parent drop-off/pick-up area, as well as an expanded parking lot to improve traffic flow and safety.
The total project cost was approximately $15.7 million, with $14.6 million funded through the voter-approved bond and $1.1 million provided through state construction program assistance. The expansion eliminated the need for portables, gave the school its first on-site library, and created space to accommodate enrollment growth in the downtown area.
However, modernization needs remain. A future bond measure will be necessary to update the original two-story classroom wing and the older building that houses the gym, lunchroom, and music areas. Because the existing gym cannot currently handle the number of P.E. classes required, students and staff are relying on the neighboring Wagner Center’s gym to meet program needs. Additional gym space will be necessary in the future to properly serve the school’s growing student body.
Additional maintenance projects completed:
- Refrigerator/freezer condensing unit replacement
- Play equipment replacement