Around the Schools
Community celebrates remodeled McDonald International School with ribbon-cutting and open house
Families, staff, students and community members celebrated the opening of the newly remodeled McDonald International School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house 2-4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 4. Superintendent Jose Banda, School Board Director Sherry Carr and Schools First president Greg Wong were among the speakers.
"As an international school, McDonald provides students with linguistic skills, higher-order thinking skills and a global perspective that will help them contribute to and succeed in a 21st century world," said Superintendent Banda.
With growing enrollment in the District, a new McDonald International School community was created in 2010 and housed in an interim site at the former Lincoln High School.
The total cost of the McDonald remodel is about $11 million. The design work began in 2010 and construction began in 2011.
The school started with 66 students, and enrollment is expected to be around 300 students for the 2012-13 school year.
Renovation Highlights
• Restoration of the building exterior including masonry cleaning, window replacement, new roofing and skylights.
• Structural strengthening.
• New interior finishes including rubber tile flooring, paint, and acoustic panel ceilings.
• New doors and hardware throughout the school.
• Restoration of the original maple floors and installation of new maple flooring.
• Restoration of the original cloak closets and glass relites in the library.
• New energy-efficient gas-fired hot water heating system.
• New ventilation system including ceiling fans in classrooms and offices.
• New plumbing and electrical systems.
• New fluorescent light fixtures with occupancy sensors.
• New fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems.
• New technology infrastructure and WiFi.
• New pavement over existing asphalt parking lot and playground.
• Renovation of gymnasium including acoustical improvements and installation of vinyl sports flooring.
Photos by Robert Teodosio/Seattle Public Schools