Construction of a new Stanwood High School in Stanwood, Wash., has been completed, but most students will have to wait to start classes there because of Covid-19.
The Everett Herald reports that staff moved into the new building in December. Around 20 teachers, about a quarter of the staff, have started to teach virtual lessons from their classrooms, Principal Christine Del Pozo says.
An estimated 60 students—ones who are homeless, don’t have internet access, are English language learners or have certain special needs—have started to attend the school.
“It’s definitely a weird feeling to be in a brand-new building and not have students,” Del Pozo says. “So especially this week it’s been very exciting to be able to actually have students.”
Del Pozo hopes to bring all students into the school before summer, even if it is for just a few hours a week. More than 1,200 attend Stanwood High School.
In 2017, voters in the Stanwood Camano district approved a $147.5 million bond to build the new school, and crews began to work on the 260,000-square-foot building about two and a half years ago. Although the school is open, some small finishing touches still need to be completed
When it comes to security, the new school has one entrance that will be locked at the beginning of every school day. Visitors and students who arrive late will have to check in at the main office. The old building had about 80 doors that opened directly to the outside.
Only 30 lockers are available, besides those for band instruments and in gym locker rooms. That way there isn’t much space to search in the case of an emergency. Students for the most part have stopped using lockers anyway, Del Pozo says.
Hallways outside classrooms are filled with cushioned chairs near big whiteboards that cover entire walls. Teachers can bring classes there or move smaller groups there to work.
Some pieces of the old building are being incorporated into the new, such as the wooden gym floor. It’s going on the outside wall leading into the new gym as an art piece. Bleachers with the Spartans logo also have moved from the other building.
Demolition of the former high school building is scheduled to finish in April. Parking spaces and a drop-off loop are expected to go in its place.
