New $37.8 million building at Pierce County school has secure courtyard, cafeteria space

Sumner High School students no longer have to eat lunch while sitting on the ground.

Marina Tanay considers that a “big thing.” Tanay is the capital projects manager for the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District.

The school district held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, May 17, for its new $37.8 million building at the high school. The building is part of the school’s modernization and expansion project.

It’s one of the projects outlined in the $145.6 million bond that voters approved in February 2016. It’s also the project that finished last. Other projects in the bond included the construction of Tehaleh Heights Elementary, among others, The News Tribune reported.

The new Sumner High building has a commons area, cafeteria space and a secure courtyard on the first floor. The kitchen can accommodate four lunch lines, and it has a large dry storage area, cooler and walk-in freezer. There’s also a library with conference rooms on the same floor.

Spart Mart is located on the second floor where students and staff can buy food, snacks and drinks. All three floors have classrooms dedicated to courses such as chemistry, physics, biology and history.

The new building has restrooms, stairs and an elevator.

Tanay said one of the best features of the new building is the technology. There are interactive monitors available in many rooms, and the WiFi is accessible throughout the building, she said.

“We very much thank voters for making it happen,” Tanay said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The old high school, which was built in the 1950s, ran out of space for students, Tanay said. Tanay said the school was built in phases – some parts were built in 1953 while other parts were built in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

“You have to know where you’re going or you’re gonna get lost in the old building,” Tanay told The News Tribune. “In the new space, everything is clear. You’ve got signage and direction.”

The second phase of the school’s modernization and expansion project would replace the pool, gym and performing arts center, The News Tribune reported in January 2020. Additional classrooms and parking spaces are also on the agenda.

The school district put out a bond for the second phase in February 2020. It failed. The district is still deciding if and when another bond will come before the voters to help pay for the next phase.

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