Building standalone schools is so 1949.
That’s why Together Spokane is proposing that a replacement for Madison Elementary – Spokane’s oldest northside school at 76-years-old – should also include a Boys & Girls Club and enclosed Public Recreation Center.
Located at the north end of Franklin Park, the current building is well past its practical lifespan and has issues with efficiency, functionality, and security. Many of these issues were present when Madison Principal Heather Holter became principal ten years ago.
“There had been talk then about a new school that would provide consistent heat, air conditioning, a roof that doesn’t leak, a more secure entry and a fence,” she said.
And while a perimeter fence and security cameras have improved safety, the building still presents barriers. A modern, two-story structure would bring special education programs inside the main building, for instance, eliminating the need for five aging portable classrooms.
“We’ve watched the building age dramatically over time,” Madison teacher Bambi Howe said in an interview with KXLY this week.
“When it rains outside, it rains inside at Madison. But our families deserve the very best we have to bring every day, and that’s what we do,” she told KHQ.
The need to redevelop Madison creates a unique opportunity for collaboration between Spokane Public Schools (SPS) and Spokane Parks and Recreation. The proposed plan includes a multi-use recreational facility that would serve both the school and wider community. With a separate public entrance and secure partitions between school and public areas to ensure the safety of staff and students, the field house could be available for basketball, pickleball, volleyball, and other community activities during and after school hours.
Collaborating to co-locate public spaces has worked successfully before, such as the Spokane Public Library’s Hillyard branch at Shaw Middle School, which was funded by the 2018 bond.
This time, private organizations have also joined the partnership. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County, Spokane Hoopfest, and Pacific Northwest Qualifier (PNQ) have all signed letters of intent to invest in the project. Private investment helps bring down the cost to taxpayers.
“Finding ways for everybody to fit [at current facilities] has been kind of a challenge,” PNQ director April Stark told The Spokesman-Review. “So, we would love to grow, and this space would be wonderful for us for our event.”
Beyond the school itself, the project aims to improve Franklin Park, which is used by Madison students and families year-round. Principal Holter sees the park’s potential to serve more community members.
“One of the barriers is the lack of a safe, clean restroom and lighting that allows people to feel safe,” she said. “Having these features updated would bring positive interactions, opportunities, and safety to the park and the community.”
More park ranger patrols and upgrades to irrigation, maintenance, and amenities would further ensure that the area remains a safe, welcoming space for the neighborhood. Principal Holter and others see the new facility and park improvements as a hub that could strengthen the northside and attract more visitors to the area.
“Events that would bring people into this community could bring increases in local business, restaurants, and hotels,” she said.
Teacher Bambi Howe agrees. “Rebuilding the school would change the quality of life,” she told The Spokesman-Review. “We can share our dream, but the rest is up to the community.”
Learn more about this project at TogetherSpokane.org/Madison-School-Rec and share your feedback at TogetherSpokane.org/Feedback.