If you build it, they will learn: Tumalo Community School expansion

(update: adding comments from students and school officials)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) - Tumalo Community School is breaking new ground—literally—marking the start of a major campus expansion with a ceremonial groundbreaking held Thursday.

The project, set to continue through the summer, will add four new classrooms and expand the school to serve students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

“Super excited to have our ceremonial groundbreaking for the construction at school,” said Sam Platt, Tumalo Community School principal. “We’re going to be adding four classrooms to include sixth, seventh, and eighth grade.”

The expansion is funded by a $93 million bond, which took about two years to develop and pass.

“It was a $93 million bond. Took us about two years to put it together and pass it,” said Redmond Schools superintendent, Charan Klein. “We had a big community committee. We wanted to create something that increased our capacity for middle school, because our middle schools were getting a little bit tight, and create something that we believe would be a draw for parents.”

School leaders say the added grades will allow students to remain in their local community longer, rather than transitioning to schools in Bend or Redmond.

“So now we’re offering them another three years where they don’t have to go into a Bend school or farther into Redmond,” said Board Chair Redmond Schools Michael Summers. “They have this unique experience in the community school that they’ve grown up in and love.”

The expansion also emphasizes hands-on learning tied to the region’s natural environment.

“We want them to experience nature. That’s why most of us live in Central Oregon anyway,” Summers added. “We have access now to the river for outdoor science projects and experiments, and for them to get hands-on with Central Oregon.”

Students are already looking forward to the changes.

“I’m super excited for the new teacher and the new experiences, and to be the top grade for three years,” said Riley.