Teachers, Students Break Ground on New Rush Elementary School

School officials and students broke ground Friday on a 65,000-square-foot, $16 million replacement building for in Redmond.

Sixth-grade teacher Sydne Mack, who has taught at the school since it opened in 1970 and will retire later this month, dug her shovel in first. Mack said she's happy with the way the project's architects interacted with the Rush community and incorporated the suggestions of teachers, students and parents into the school's site plan.

"These people really listened," she said. "I'm very pleased that the district allowed them to do that."

Rush Principal Brad Stolz echoed Mack's sentiments.

"They really listened to our needs and wants," he said. "It's a beautiful, open design built for collaboration and engagement."

Mack and Stolz were joined in the groundbreaking by Rush kindergartener Emery McClellan and sixth-grader Tim Corey, who were randomly selected to participate. Even though he'll be moving on to junior high next year, Tim said he felt proud to be part of the ceremony and thinks the new school will be an improvement on the existing building.

"It just kind of looks newer and better," he said.

District officials anticipate the new school will open to students in the winter of 2013. For more information on the project, visit the Rush Elementary modernization page on the Lake Washington School District website.