The Shiloh Hills Elementary School modernization and expansion is slated to be completed just in time for the 2019-2020 school year, says Ned Wendle, Mead School District director of facilities and planning. 

The $19 million project is part of the Mead School District’s voter-approved $80 million bond measure in 2015.

Although weather has proven to be a setback, Spokane-based Garco Construction Inc. is efficiently handling the development and meeting the set timeline and budget, Wendle says.

“If you were in the old building, you wouldn’t recognize the new one,” Wendle says, adding that the only thing left standing as of now is the brick walls.”

MMEC Architects & Interiors designed the modernization-expansion project. 

The building at 505 E. Stonewall will have an added 15,000 square feet of classroom space with six new classrooms as well as a multipurpose room that will serve as a cafeteria. The addition will bring the building to a total of 60,000 square feet.

Wendle says that most of the added classrooms will be for all-day kindergarten. Also, the larger classrooms are designed to be well-suited for children with special needs at Shiloh Hills, he says.

He says that demographic study shows that enrollment is expected to increase every year for at least the next five years, and Shiloh Hills is expected to hire a few more teachers to add to its staff.

“With these building projects, we’re just expecting continued growth,” Wendle says.

Wendle says, although it may be painful for the surrounding neighbors to deal with a constant construction crew moving around, as far as the building and renovation, the response has been positive.

“(It’s) definitely improving the look and value of the public-school system property, and (it) also helps the neighborhood,” Wendle says.