Summer Construction Continues on Secondary Learning Center

School may be out, but campus activity is all abuzz. 

Construction of the new Secondary Learning Center is underway this summer at the site of the former Black River High School in Skyway. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2012, the new school will provide high school students with basic education programs including mathematics, reading, writing and science, along with new, innovative classes like Web-based programs, pre-engineering and culinary arts among other subjects.

Planning for the project began in 2006 when community members, staff and others prepared a list of school renovations and upgrades to be placed before voters. In May 2008, voters approved the package by a healthy margin. Some of the projects listed in the project proposal included construction of the new Secondary Learning Center, along with a new classroom wing at , renovations at , work at Dimmitt and Nelsen middle schools and an Early Childhood Learning Center.

Construction continues, on time and on budget

The new school construction project began almost one year ago in August 2010 with the demolition of Black River High School and the preparation of the site which included installation of a ground-source heat pump well system, “wet utilities” installations (including water, sanitary sewer, storm water control, and site erosion protection), rough grading, and preparation of the building pad on which the new school is being constructed. The preparation work was completed before the winter’s rainy months, which helped to keep the cost of the project within budget as it avoided having to address the site's severe drainage challenges during the worst weather of the year. Now, Phase II and construction of the new school has resumed. Construction crews are placing the foundations to support the framework and walls of the building. Construction remains on time and on budget.

*Information from the report was provide by the Renton School District.