Jill Sperling reports

RICHLAND, Wash. — Richland School District students are heading back to class Tuesday, Aug. 30, and some kids will see a few changes upon their return.  

Badger Mountain Elementary School is reopening to students.  

“We had it rebuilt thanks to the support of the voters that supported the bond that helped pay for that project,” said RSD Director of Communications Ty Beaver.  

Voters approved that bond in 2017. The $99 million dollar bond has helped Richland School District pay for the $26.8 million rebuild of Badger Mountain Elementary and other ongoing projects.  

Over the past few weeks, furniture has been moving in to prepare the school to once again open its doors to students.  

“We’re excited to have our students back in that building,” Beaver said. “They had been temporarily at the school on Sunshine for about a school year.” 

Desert Sky Elementary opened to students in 2019. It temporarily housed students from Tapteal Elementary as that school was rebuilt, before welcoming Badger Mountain students.  

Now, it will have its own student community.  

“We’re excited to start that building’s own chapter of what its future will be with its own families, its own students, its own staff,” Beaver said.  

The Richland School District has also repainted the gym at Chief Joseph Middle School and replaced the carpet at William Wiley Elementary.  

Plus, work is nearing completion on Fran Rish Stadium, also a product of that $99 million bond.  

“It paid to redo the home-side bleachers where our locker room facilities are located,” Beaver said. “It’s paying to make those bleachers more mobility accessible, put turf on the field, redid the track, building a new ticket and bathroom facility at the front, near the main parking lot.” 

Beaver said the stadium should be ready by the start of football season.  

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