New Pullman elementary named Kamiak

A name has been settled on for Pullman's fourth elementary school. The Pullman School Board announced last month that the school has been named Kamiak Elementary following public input and a committee's selection.

Pullman School Board President Dean Kinzer said a committee of school administrators, board members and residents took recommendations from the public, leading to a plethora of responses.

“The committee received over 30 recommendations,” he said. “The committee narrowed it down to six and presented those. Kamiak was the highest recommended from the committee.”

Kinzer said this name honors Chief Kamiaken, a famous Yakama chieftain.

“It had several different reasons, and it honors a Native American from this area. And of course Kamiak Butte is named after him. His nickname was Kamiak,” said Kinzer. “We thought it would be appropriate.”

Pullman district voters in February passed a $23.5 million bond to allow the district to construct the new elementary school. The bond netted a 68 percent approval rate after school district officials cited growing numbers of students along with the state mandate to lower class sizes necessitating the construction of another school.

Property has been acquired at the north end of the city on Military Hill toward the top of Terre View Drive for the new school. That cost the district $430,000.

Kinzer said the district is looking forward to the addition of Kamiak Elementary.

“We're kind of excited about getting it up and going as soon as possible,” he said. “We're a little over the size we need to be in some classes.”

Some of the kindergarten classes now have 26 students, Kinzer said. The state mandate is to limit class sizes for third grade and below at 17 students or less after 2018.

“We've been adding as fast as we can, but we can't keep up,” said Kinzer.

Jefferson Elementary had four classrooms added this summer, and six classrooms were added at Franklin Elementary the year before. Sunnyside Elementary does not have the infrastructure to support more classrooms, said Kinzer.

Also, the district recently received a class reduction grant in the amount of $7.4 million which will go toward Kamiak.

“That will allow us to construct 24 classrooms instead of 18,” Kinzer said.

Design West Architects is currently working on the conceptual design for the school, which includes 24 classrooms and two stories. Kinzer reported that construction will not be able to start on the school until a temporary road is constructed to allow access to the property.

“The earliest is 2018 before we can get it done,” he said. “It depends on what we can get on line this fall.”