Just before saying goodbye for the summer, the Salem Woods students, staff, and community excitedly broke ground to kick off the construction project that will provide a brand new school for the Timberbeasts. The new facilities are set to open in the fall of 2018.

Salem Woods Elementary on Wagner Road will be getting a new two-story school to replace four of its five classroom buildings. After that is done, the other buildings can be torn down for parking and play fields. One old building, with a multipurpose gym, lunch and music area, is not being updated, said John Mannix, assistant superintendent of district operations. That likely will be part of a future bond.

The rebuild of Salem Woods, which has 471 students, is a $22.7 million project. The current school was built in 1980.

While staff, students and community members are fond of the school's outdoorsy, welcoming feel, the buildings are aging and hard to secure. The new school will swap covered outdoor walkways for indoor hallways. Classes are to be grouped so teachers and students can easily work together. They expect better lighting and no leaky ceilings. Designs also take advantage of the nearby green space and creek with an outdoor learning space.

Year-long construction on site, however, will bring challenges. Salem Woods families were told that all students next year are expected to arrive by bus. Space to park or drop off kids is going to be nearly nonexistent, Principal Janna Pope said.

"We have a lot of parents who like to drive their kids, and every student will have to get on a school bus," she said. "It's a one-year inconvenience."

The teachers and principal say results will be worth a year of parking woes.

"Schools are really the heart of a community," Pope said. "I think it speaks volumes to have schools that are updated and taken care of."

Thank you also to Tiger Construction, DLR Group, City of Monroe, WA for helping us kick off the project today!