Spokane city and school district officials broke ground today [Tuesday] on what they call a new educational campus near the Northeast Community Center. It’s a joint project between the city and the school district.
“We are building a brand new Shaw Middle School. Connected to it will be the new Hillyard Library. And then, right on the same campus, will be the new OnTrack Academy. Currently they’re in portables across the way, but they’ll have a permanent facility as well,” said Spokane Public Schools associate superintendent Mark Anderson.
Anderson says the city plans to employ a traffic calming strategy in the area so that people can easily walk between the school, library and community center.
The project is funded as part of the $495 million school bond issue approved by Spokane voters last year. Also included are plans to build three new middle schools, in addition to major and minor renovations to several other schools.
The Hillyard Library is part of the $77 million city bond also approved by voters last year. It also includes a new library in east Spokane and major renovations to several existing libraries.