New Blackwater school update

February 16, 2018

Aaron J. Tohtsoni 

Gila River Indian News

The construction on the new Blackwater Community School has moved into the second phase of the building process. With the planning phase, complete efforts are shifting over to the design phase. As reported in February 2016, BWCS was selected as one of 10 schools for new construction by the Bureau of Indian Education.

The planning phase concluded that the new school will be 70,646 square-feet and will house early childhood through third grade. The fourth and fifth grades are funded through the state of Arizona as a charter school. Because of the split, the BIE authorized during the planning phase to accommodate common areas to fit all grades, regardless if funded by the BIE or State. The common areas will include the library, kitchen and cafeteria, gymnasium, stage and other administration office space.

The school has received financial support from the Gila River Indian Community in regards to expanding the school plans to include the fourth and fifth grades. Once the design phase is complete, the next phase will be the construction phase.