Future Projects: Evergreen and Kamiakin Middle Schools

On January 24, the School Construction Input Team (SCIT) at Evergreen (EMS) and Kamiakin (KaMS) Middle Schools met with the capital projects team to continue work for future plans of their school campus projects. The SCIT members have been meeting throughout the school year to provide feedback on the design for new Evergreen and Kamiakin Middle Schools. Evergreen and Kamiakin are two of four aging schools (built in 1983 and 1974) that are part of the Building Excellence – Phase 2 Plan. 

The goal of Building Excellence – Phase 2 Plan is to rebuild and enlarge the four oldest schools that have not received upgrades or rebuilds since the start of the 1998 modernization program – including Alcott Elementary, Smith Elementary, Kamiakin Middle School and Evergreen Middle School. 

The pre-design process includes a review of existing site amenities and site master planning to ensure optimal and flexible utilization of the entire site. During the breakout sessions, SCIT members discussed relationships between interior and exterior spaces and how to integrate them into the school design by priority of students, staff and community needs. 

The pre-design process is funded with proceeds of prior voter approved construction measures and based on recommendations from our Facility Advisory Committees. This collaborative process between diverse stakeholders, contractors and designers will provide the district better cost certainty and transparency for the recommended funding measure.

The recommended funding mechanism for the Phase 2 projects is a six-year Capital Construction Levy that would go to voters in November 2024. The levy collection would begin in 2026. The EMS rebuild and enlarge project is estimated to be completed by 2031 and KaMS is estimated to be completed by 2029.