Pocatello School Plans Major Expansion

Grace Lutheran School in Pocatello is adding a 13,000-square-foot addition to the current campus.

The new facility will bring day care, preschool, and kindergarten into the campus.

Kids from toddlers to eighth-graders will be under the same roof.

“Having everything together is having the whole family in one house rather than two houses. There’s cost savings involved and a brand spanking new facility for the kids,? Grace Lutheran Executive Director Gabe Flicker said.

Staff at the school are excited for the big age range, saying they think it will help out both the older and younger students.

“It builds a safe community where big kids are looking out for little kids. It’s not an area of animosity or strife, but when we need to focus on the business at hand, which is education, we have an opportunity to keep those areas separate,? Grace Lutheran Principal Anne Bopp said.

And the new construction will also incorporate plenty of new technology.

“Technology is an ever-evolving quality in schools and we’re excited to see where that can take us and most importantly where it can take our kids,? Bopp said.

One of the technological upgrades will be called the Apple Technology iPad Sandbox.

“For our kids that’s what we’re trying to create, an environment that is bringing together the minds and the curiosity and experiences of children to dig together and to discover. And that’s where the sandbox concept comes from,? Bopp said.

Flicker said the school is always trying to bring the newest teaching tools to the kids.

“Anything that’s new and good for kids, that’s something we want to bring to this community,? Flicker said.

The construction will cost $1.5 million, and the school hopes it will be completed in the fall.