Breaking ground on new Salish Coast Elementary

After groups of students led attendees in a march around the building site for the school, to the strains of the Port Townsend Summer Band, the adult speakers began to impart the significance of the school.

Port Townsend School District Board President Nathanael O’Hara commended the community for its support of the new school, which he sees as offering “limitless possibilities” for its students and the community.

“One of the greatest parts of a school board member’s job is awarding diplomas at graduation,” O’Hara said. “Each time I do this, I realize how close and connected our students become. Salish Coast Elementary will be the place for our youngest students to begin developing strong relationships and unique bonds with their peers and teachers. I hope this building will be a special place for them to become effective thinkers and empowered learners.”

Port Townsend Mayor Deborah Stinson noted that even small cities require “a lot of moving parts, in order to be livable places,” and while city government and infrastructure play key roles in making the city run, she sees other agencies as essential to the functioning of any community, from its commercial sector to its health care.

“None of those services would be possible without people to work in those places,” Stinson said. “All of those jobs require that our children receive great schooling. This is a collective commitment to investing in our future. It’s also how we attain more young families, who help make us a stronger, more vibrant community.”

EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The Port Townsend Education Foundation was represented by Missy Nielsen, clad in a superhero-style mask and cape, and Holly Carlson, who actually spoke for the “small group of volunteers” whom she credited with generating between $50,000 and $60,000 per year.

“Every single student in the district has been touched by those efforts,” Carlson said. “Ninety-nine cents out of every dollar donated goes directly to the students.”

U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, 6th District, was represented by Mary Jane Robins, who noted that the congressman was the son of two public school teachers and looked forward to seeing Salish Coast Elementary provide not only space for “hands-on learning opportunities, through state-of-the-art technology,” but also “a foundation for lifelong learning.”

Former Port Townsend School District Superintendent David Engle, whose role in bringing about Salish Coast Elementary was noted, declared that “dreams do come true,” as he recalled the rocky road toward the new school.

“When I came here in 2012, the district had failed two bond issues, and the board told me to be careful about my plans,” Engle said. “It took a couple of years for me and the community to get to know each other, but our bond passed with the highest approval rating at that time in the state.”

Engle credited this response to the notion that “this community knows the value of taking care of its young people,” and added, “Today, we begin the next several generations of learning.”