Public invited to celebrate latest work on Enumclaw High campus

The ribbon cutting for the new music wing is Aug. 28 at 5 p.m., though the open house lasts until 8.

By Kevin Hanson • August 21, 2019 10:15 am
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Enumclaw High students and staff have lived through a long construction and remodel process. On the evening of Aug. 28 the district will celebrate completion of the final pieces of the project. Photo by Kevin Hanson
Enumclaw High students and staff have lived through a long construction and remodel process. On the evening of Aug. 28 the district will celebrate completion of the final pieces of the project. Photo by Kevin Hanson

For three long years, Enumclaw High School students had trudged off campus to attend their choir, band and orchestra classes. But that’s a thing of the past and, when school opens Sept. 3, students will be showing their musical prowess in brand new digs.

The new music wing – along with a renovated agriculture building – will be celebrated in a most public way the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 28. The Enumclaw School District is inviting the public to a grand opening ceremony, complete with self-guided tours of the latest addition to an evolving Enumclaw High.

A free barbecue dinner will be served at 5 p.m., with ceremonies beginning at 5:45 and tours following. The dinner is provided courtesy of band, choir and orchestra boosters.

As part of the extensive renovation of the EHS campus, music students have trekked across McDougall Avenue to share classroom space with students at Enumclaw Middle School. It was initially expected that the jaunt would continue into the coming school year but construction moved along quicker than planned. It was announced in May that Forma Construction and its associated crews would be completing work five months ahead of schedule.

Superintendent Mike Nelson said the music and agriculture buildings were the last remaining portions of the campus remodel to be completed. Some minor work needs finishing, but the key elements are complete.

Everything was made possible by district voters who, in 2015, agreed to part with $68 million in tax dollars. The bond measure passed by a razor-thin margin; needing 60 percent approval it netted 60.05. Combined with roughly $18 in state money, the school system tackled two major projects.

First came the demolition of Black Diamond Elementary School and subsequent rebuild, an effort that saw Black Diamond students transported to Enumclaw for a full school year. At Enumclaw High, crews first added a two-story structure on the south side of the campus that will replace aging classrooms, the library, science labs, music facility, auditorium and gymnasium. Then came the music wing and renovation of the ag building, projects that will be celebrated on the 28th.

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