Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 05/26/26

Key Takeaways

  • Cheney School District announced plans for a new elementary school in Airway Heights, Washington, expected to open in fall 2027 and serve about 500 students in grades K–5.
  • The project is funded by a $72 million bond approved in 2024 and is intended to reduce overcrowding and eliminate reliance on portable classrooms in the district.
  • District officials say the new school will include expanded facilities such as a larger gym, multipurpose space, and field to better support both students and the broader community.

Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027. The school will play home to about 500 students in grades K–5.

According to local news, funding comes from a $72-million bond approved by voters in 2024. The purpose of the new facility is to relieve overcrowding in the district’s five existing elementary schools, all of which are operating above capacity and have funneled students into portable classrooms. The district also estimates another 760 students to enroll over the next ten years, 500 from Airway Heights, according to The Spokesman-Review.

“To get out of portables is going to be fantastic,” said Dr. Ben Ferney, district superintendent. “Sunset Elementary, our one elementary school in Airway Heights, is huge; it’s over 600 students. So that is going to be the school that is relieved the most.”

The district partnered with Intergus Architecture and Garco Construction for the project’s design and construction, respectively.

“With that growth, obviously, you build schools where the kids are. So being able to build here is awesome,” Ferney said. “It’s got a larger gym, it’s got a larger multipurpose space, it’s got a huge field. So I think the community use is going to be pretty big.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Harvard Announces Replacement Facility for Native American Program

    Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction will begin this spring on a new home for its Native American Program, according to university news. The 6,500-square-foot, all-electric building will stand three stories and serve as the central hub for the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP).

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.

  • Ohio State University Opens 26-Story Hospital

    The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recently opened in Columbus, Ohio, standing 26 stories and covering 1.9 million square feet, according to a university news release. The project marks ten years of effort and is the university’s largest single-facility construction project ever.