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Planning, Design & Features

Rendering of new K8 School in Gladden Farms

K-8 Planning & Design

“K8 schools are a cost-efficient model for providing elementary and middle school education in one building. Families with kids in several grades benefit from having one drop-off for their students,” said Dr. Dan Streeter, Superintendent. 

“The K8 model has worked well for Marana families, students, and teachers. Young elementary students look up to the older kids, and middle schoolers are encouraged to develop as leaders and role models,” he added. “It is a safe and encouraging environment for our students to grow.”

Planning for the K8 has been in progress over the past year. Several public forums were hosted to gather input on overall goals for the K8, along with conversations around design, safety, and other hot topics with parents, teachers, staff, and community members. The school’s final design will apply lessons learned from past MUSD school projects along with input from these forums.

In planning and designing the new K8, the following goals were prioritized:

  • Balance safety with an open and welcoming environment
  • Safety and security
  • Be operationally efficient and easy to maintain
  • Offer flexibility and encourage collaboration
  • Provide the feeling of one building with grade levels grouped together
  • Support appropriate developmental age range activities and attributes of all students
  • Create a sense of community with opportunities for student interaction across grades
  • Plan for middle school elective space such as art, music, orchestra
  • Plan safe and efficient arrival and departure, accommodating cars/parent drop-off, walkers, and buses
  • Plan for site expansion 
  • Embrace diversity in the community     
  • Support teaching and lessons learned from students, parents, and staff

The new K8 is being designed by BWS Architects and built by Core Construction. Designs are preliminary.

New K-8 Features

Press Inquiries:

Allison Benjamin

Allison Benjamin

Director Public Relations
Zachary Singer

Zachary Singer

PRINCIPAL