It took five bond measures, a multi-million-dollar state grant and two years of construction to complete, but the highly-anticipated new Toledo High School will officially open with a ribbon cutting on Friday.
The new school replaces the old high school that was subject to water incursion, electrical and seismic deficits, poor insulation and ventilation, and a host of other difficulties that made teaching and learning difficult, according to a news release from the Toledo School District.
The grand opening, which starts at 4 p.m. on April 22, will involve members of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe as well as dignitaries who participated in the project.
The ribbon cutting will be followed by an open house and tours. The public is invited to attend.
The new structure, designed by IBI Group Architects and built by Jones and Roberts, brings in more natural light, provides more ventilation and includes cooling for warmer days in fall and spring, according to the Toledo School District.
“The design came from multiple meetings where community members determined that a combination of remodeling and new construction would make the best use of resources,” said Board Chair Monique Norberg.
“Several areas of the school were remodeled, but alumni who tour the building all say it is truly a new school,” said Toledo High School Principal Martin Huffman.
The Toledo School District was eligible for a $10 million Distressed Schools Grant in 2019 thanks to the efforts of ToledoTel COO Dale Merten, former state Rep. Richard DeBolt, Rep. Ed Orcutt and Rep. Steve Tharinger, according to the school district The grant was dependent upon the community approving a $7 million capital bond which it did in November 2019.
“Capital projects are more difficult for small communities to afford due to smaller tax bases,” said Superintendent Chris Rust. “The Distressed Schools Grant along with funds from the State Construction Assistance Program really made the project possible.”
