Sisters breaks ground for new school

While there has already been tree clearing over the last few months, on a frosty, sunny morning last Thursday, October 27, Sisters School Board members, architects, builders, and Superintendent Curt Scholl made Sisters Elementary School construction official with a groundbreaking ceremony, using gold shovels to commemorate work that will create a full K-12 campus.

Steve Buettner and Julie Hyer from SunWest Builders were in attendance along with architects Heidi Slaybaugh, Eric Nielsen, and Ellie Escobar from BLRB Builders. Kristin Turnquist from the bond oversight committee was also in attendance. Project Manager Brett Hudson of Sisters School District (SSD) and Ryan Stock, director of operations, were also in attendance along with school board member Jeff Smith among other board members. Scholl and Sisters Elementary School Principal Joan Warburg were on hand.

“This was our official groundbreaking to celebrate the new elementary school and consolidate the K-12 campus,” said Scholl.

The school construction is funded through a $33,800,000 general obligation bond passed by Sisters voters in 2021. According to SSD officials, there are many benefits to the new location, with Sisters Elementary School being closer to the other schools, including easier and more efficient allocation of resources.

“It allows for a walkable space and support for other programs, and having the K-5 curriculum we purchase be in one building,” said Scholl.

The fifth-grade classes have been held at Sisters Middle School for many years. They will be moved back to the elementary school once it’s completed, allowing for additional space in the middle school.

“As we grow, that space allows the school to grow in the middle school, with fifth-graders being back in the elementary school,” said Scholl.

At the site of the official groundbreaking, board members, architects, builders, principals, and the superintendent all gathered to ceremonially dig into the dirt on their new building location.

“We are so excited to see this moving forward,” said Scholl. “We are so appreciative of our voters in Sisters Country and allowing these plans to move forward. We are so grateful to be working with SunWest Builders on the project. The entire team is excited to see the asset the space will provide and about the next steps in building moving forward.”

The new elementary school is expected to be completed in April 2024.

Learn more about the project and the bond measure that supported it at: http://ssd6.org/schoolboard/2021bond/.