When students at Bryant Montessori School in Tacoma returned for the first day of classes on September 9, they moved into a sleek, brand new building.
Over the past few years, the PK-8 school has been demolished and rebuilt from the ground up. In 2020, voters approved a $535 million school construction bond, and eight Tacoma Public Schools campuses — including Bryant — were chosen for replacement or renovation.
The public can now see with their own eyes how some of that money was spent. The district will host a grand opening of Bryant, 717 S. Grant Ave., on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m.
The News Tribune got a sneak peek of Bryant before the students arrived on Wednesday, September 25.
Principal Neil O’Brien told the newspaper that although he was not principal during the previous iteration of Bryant, he had heard stories about the old campus. It had leaky roofs and ceilings, he said, and portables where a playground and lawn are now.
Students and their families are attached to Bryant, he said.
“There’s a lot of excitement in the community about the new building, and it’s really an endorsement of what we’re doing,” he said.
He later added: “There is warmth everywhere in this school.”
Sunlight pours into Bryant’s large windows, accentuating the natural wood elements, soothing wall colors and modern lighting.
In a video posted to YouTube on September 26, fifth-grader Walter Weatherspoon and eighth-grader Jaice Sem record their own tour of the new Bryant. They highlight some of their favorite features, such as house-shaped bathroom mirrors and the new communal garden.
“As our minds grow, I feel like this garden will surely follow,” Jaice says in the video. “The flowers here will be as beautiful as the human spirit.”
Another striking design accent: the cafeteria features a silhouette of the Tacoma skyline.
Head chef Ikeshia Weatherspoon, Walter’s mother, is a fan of the new space. She told The News Tribune it’s good to be around again; students can walk to school again.
While the new building was being constructed, students attended classes on the former site of Skyline Elementary School.
“We’re the same Bryant we’ve always been,” Weatherspoon said. “But now we have a better, bigger space where children can feel welcome — and knowing that they have a place where they can learn is new and comfortable.”
How much did the replacement cost?
Stacy Page, facilities communications manager at TPS, told The News Tribune via email that the “final budget and expected costs” [emphasis hers] for Bryant Montessori 2.0 is $53,940,000.
Page also sent a construction timeline for the other schools included in the 2020 bond:
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Hunt Middle School: Opening 2021
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Downing Elementary: Opening 2022
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Skyline Elementary: Opening 2022
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Fawcett Elementary: Opening 2023
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Bryant Montessori: Opened Fall 2024
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Oakland High School: Expected to open in fall 2025
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Lowell Elementary: Expected to open in fall 2026
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Whittier Elementary: Expected to open in fall 2027
The old Bryant was built in 1960, as noted on the district’s website.
Referring to the band, O’Brien said he is grateful for the community’s support.
“Teachers work hard,” he continued, “and when we feel the support from the community, it just puts wind in our sails.”
