June 10 Update: Ferrucci Junior High Update

The update below was shared with Ferrucci Junior High families and incoming Ferrucci 7th grade families on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

On June 1, 2026, we shared that Ferrucci Junior High would not be ready for occupancy at the start of the 2026-27 school year due to the additional restoration work required following the April 4, 2026, fire. At that time, we committed to providing an update on our plans for the next school year by June 16. 

Over the past several weeks, district staff have worked closely with restoration experts, contractors, school leaders, and neighboring school districts to evaluate a variety of options for housing Ferrucci students during the upcoming school year. We have also carefully reviewed the feedback provided through the recent community survey. 

As of this communication, and based on the most current information available, Ferrucci Junior High students will begin the 2026-27 school year in the same temporary learning locations that were established this spring: 
 

• 7th and 8th grade students will continue learning at the former Naches Trail Elementary site through our partnership with Bethel School District.
• 9th grade students will continue learning on the Emerald Ridge High School/Glacier View Junior High campus.
• Students in the Support Center Program will continue attending Stahl Junior High. 

We will provide families with another update on restoration efforts and any potential changes to these arrangements prior to the start of the 2026-27 school year. 

Prior to Winter Break, we will evaluate the status of restoration efforts and determine whether Ferrucci Junior High will be ready to welcome students back during the second semester. We will communicate that decision to families by December 18, 2026.  

If restoration work is completed and the building is approved for occupancy, Winter Break provides the most practical opportunity for a transition. Moving an entire school community back into the building requires significant planning, preparation, and logistics, making a two-week break the ideal window to accomplish that work while minimizing disruption to student learning. 

If the building is not ready for occupancy at that time, students will remain in their current temporary locations through the end of the 2026-27 school year. 

We appreciate the flexibility and partnership of our families as we continue working toward a safe and successful return to Ferrucci Junior High. Maintaining the current temporary arrangement through early December provides students with the greatest stability and continuity while restoration efforts continue and while we evaluate the readiness of the building for second semester. 
 
Community feedback played an important role in our discussions. Survey respondents consistently identified maintaining a stable learning environment as their highest priority. Families also expressed concerns about transportation impacts, access to programs and activities, and the possibility of students being separated from their peers.
 
The district explored numerous alternatives, including options that would bring all Ferrucci students back within district boundaries. However, when an entire school building is unavailable, the challenges associated with housing hundreds of students become significant. While we were able to return ninth grade students to the Emerald Ridge/Glacier View campus this spring, there is currently no available district facility capable of housing all remaining Ferrucci students together. 

Many of the alternatives considered would have required splitting grade levels among multiple schools and locations throughout the district, creating additional transitions and disruptions for students and staff. Ultimately, district leaders determined that maintaining the current arrangement provides the greatest consistency for students while preserving school connections and instructional continuity. 

We are especially grateful to Bethel School District for their continued partnership and support. Their willingness to make the former Naches Trail Elementary site available has allowed us to keep seventh and eighth grade students together as a school community during this challenging time. 

We understand that families will continue to have questions as restoration work progresses. With this decision now in place, district staff will move forward with detailed planning for the start of the 2026-27 school year, including transportation, student supports, staffing, and operational logistics across all temporary learning locations. 

Additionally, we want families to know that we carefully reviewed the feedback received through our recent survey. As planning continues, we will be evaluating the concerns and challenges identified by families and staff and exploring opportunities to mitigate those impacts wherever possible.
 
And we remain committed to providing regular updates on the FJH restoration webpage and sharing information as it becomes available. 

Thank you for your continued patience, flexibility, and support as we work toward returning the Ferrucci community home.