Feedback continues to shape White Salmon Valley School District's new K-6 school design

WSVSD Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn said during the school board’s September meeting that Whitson Elementary Principal Todd McCauley, Assistant Principal Trisha Eddy, and grade level staff have been providing input and feedback on those plans.

“That feedback is important, as the plans may look good on paper, but the people who will work in these rooms every day can help us identify practical needs that may not be immediately apparent to the design team,” Polkinghorn said.

He and Assistant Principal for grades 7-12 Jim Donnelly are also gathering feedback from middle school staff on what will be needed inside the portable classrooms that will house students during the elementary school’s construction phase. As previously reported, students will vacate the building beginning next summer, with 5-6 at Whitson Elementary and 7-8 in portables near the high school’s multipurpose building.

“We know that temporary classrooms are never ideal, but we want those spaces to function as well as possible for both students and staff,” Polkinghorn said.

Architects also recently shared the building’s proposed exterior renderings. “That work is not ready for public consumption yet, but the way in which our architects are approaching the building is so thoughtful and impressive,” Polkinghorn said. “Soon, we’ll have public-ready renderings we can share — I’m excited for when that time comes; we’ll really start to see the vision for the school.”

Polkinghorn shared both the current site and building plans — subject to change as feedback comes in — which can be found accompanying this article, or on the district’s website.

The next step is to finalize the design and prepare construction documents.

“We remain on schedule to begin bidding in late March or early April, with construction beginning shortly thereafter,” he said.