It's official. While students and teachers are on spring break, groundbreaking crews have started excavation in Hailey's Woodside subdivision to begin construction of the new Woodside Elementary School.
Plans for the school took about two years to get through the public approval process, including annexation of the property for the 54,000 square foot school. The project includes some 23-construction components for the building and associated playing fields and school facilities. The project will also include a community housing component to provide more affordable housing, which Blaine County School District Superintendent Jim Lewis said will help the community retain teachers and other staff.
Construction of a new entrance at the intersection of Berrycreek Drive and Mountain Ash is also under way. The driveway is being paid for by the school district, but the school district and the city are splitting the cost of building 1,000 linear feet of sidewalk associated with the project. Some city leaders view the new intersection as a starting point for expanding sidewalks in Woodside, especially as more children will likely be walking to the new campus.
Along with final annexation approval for the school granted in early March, the Hailey City Council accepted the contribution of housing lots adjacent to the proposed school property by the school district in lieu of an additional $40,000 in fees for residential units planned for the property. The city will take ownership of the land rather than accept the additional fees because city leaders accepted the school district's viewpoint that for the city, owning the property will have long term benefits in terms of housing and property value.
Currently, the plan for the school is to build 28 classrooms of various types to accommodate up to 600 students, said Scott Hensen the architect. Provisions are in place in the design to allow the school district eventually to add four to six more classrooms to the new building as demand requires.
Breaking ground over spring break, crews make way for a new school in Hailey to be called Woodside Elementary School. It is located at a new intersection being created at Berrycreek Drive and Mountain Ash. Photo by David N. Seelig
