What's Happening in Auburn, WA…

School officials, community leaders, and others recently broke ground for a new school to be built in Auburn.

The elementary school, which has not yet been named, will be located near the line between King and Pierce Counties, in the southeastern part of the city. The undeveloped hill where the school will rise is surrounded by trees, and crews have been grading and digging the site, which was recently clear-cut.

Of the 21 acres, 16 will be occupied by a new, up-to-the-minute school that will admit 650 elementary students in the fall of 2020. When new facilities like this open, officials can use banner printing to create decorations that celebrate the day.

This will be the 15th elementary school in the Auburn School District, which has 23 schools in total. It is the first new school to join the list since 2007, when Arthur Jacobsen Elementary opened its doors.

Alan Spicciati, the superintendent of the school district, told those who attended the groundbreaking that Auburn needed the school. He pointed out that the city is thriving, and the school district is the most rapidly growing one in King County. He believes that parents are finding the city an ideal place to raise families, which translates to more students entering Auburn's school system.

Funding for the construction comes from a bond approved by voters in 2017. Totaling $456m, it will build two new schools and refurbish six existing ones.