For Ferndale High School students, their mantra might as well be “new year, new school.”
For months, the students, teachers and staff have watched the new building slowly rise from where the football field once was, in the background of the nearly 100-year-old existing structure. Over the last few weeks, Cornerstone Construction made finishing touches as new furniture arrived at the school. On Jan. 3, teachers and staff hurriedly organized and decorated their classrooms to prepare for the more than 1,300 students to return.
Finally, on Wednesday morning, students walked in the expansive commons and found their way through the shiny halls to find their teachers in new classrooms. Some participated in a scavenger hunt to learn the layout of the building, and the Lummi students held their daily morning circle for the first time in the new building.
An excited energy flowed through the students and staff as they climbed stairs and turned corners to find large windows with views of Mount Baker as the sun rose and corners with fun, modern seating.
“I think it will impact us pretty positively,” junior Mia Kinsfather said. “We have a lot of new opportunities and new spaces to learn in.”
The new building features a three-story academic wing filled with classrooms, staff spaces and a new library. Each floor has about a dozen classrooms, staff areas and collaborative spaces.
Many newly built schools, including Sunnyland Elementary in Bellingham, have included collaborative spaces in hallways and outside of classrooms to provide students with extra flexible space for instruction. Staff can use it for one-on-one or group instruction, or students can use the space for quiet, solo studying.
“Collaborative spaces and different types and sizes of spaces are super important for students because everybody learns a little bit differently and everybody’s comfortable in different kinds of groups,” architect Tim Jewett said. “Two to six kids can be within those collaborative spaces, be able to break out and work on a project that’s still within sight of a teacher. So, you still get that openness and transparency.”
Staff and administrative offices are housed on the first floor. A large commons area connects the academic wing to a second wing with the auxiliary gym, the main gym — which opened in September 2022 — and career and technical education (CTE) spaces, including future agricultural and aquaculture buildings. The CTE building will be rebuilt and opened in the fall. The performing arts center is one of the few buildings to remain with a few structural improvements.
With safety and security in mind, a fence will surround the school to limit access points.
Currently, the new building accommodates approximately 1,375 students, but the design allows for the construction of additions that could serve 1,600 students if needed.
The new building is a result of a 2019 bond passed by the Ferndale community to fund more than $112 million in capital projects throughout the school district. A majority — $105 million — was designated for the new high school. After the bond passed the district received an additional $20.8 million in a “state match.” The school district reported it had spent approximately $79 million as of Oct. 31, 2022.
After months of work and collaboration between the school district, community and construction agencies, the students finally get to enjoy the new space.
“There are people working in the district, for Cornerstone, for [Construction Services Group] that are all trying to do the right thing for the district, for the voters,” said Bond Oversight Committee Chair Riley Cornelsen at the Dec. 13 board meeting. “We got a long way to go still, but I’m very encouraged so far and am excited for the academic wing to open up.”
Ferndale principal Ravinder Dhillon said she hopes that the building becomes a community hub.
“Our community deserves this more than anything,” Dhillon said. “It’s the pinnacle of Ferndale. Like when you drive by, it’s the nicest thing in Ferndale.”
The new football field and grandstands will open in the fall of 2023.
Capital projects on the building and throughout the district will continue through 2024 with funding from the 2019 bond. The old school building will be demolished this spring.
