On Tuesday, the Everett community celebrated the inauguration of a new gymnasium at Explorer Middle School, marking a significant milestone five years after voters approved a multimillion-dollar bond aimed at enhancing educational facilities throughout the Mukilteo School District.
Principal Kendrah Leone emphasized the importance of student input in shaping the gym’s design.
“It was really important to that team to take the student voice and bring it to life with this project,” Leone stated during the opening ceremony. “It truly is an innovative space that has students’ learning, growth and well-being in mind in every corner of this space.”
Students and staff fondly recalled the challenges posed by the previous gym, which many described as hot and dimly lit. Dina Worku, a volleyball player, reminisced about the frustration of balls continually hitting the low ceiling during games. Parker Brooking, the president of the Associated Student Body, remarked on the limitations the old gym posed for hosting events, saying, “With this gym, we don’t have to worry about that.”
The newly constructed gym boasts brighter lighting, an increased ceiling height, and bleacher seating that accommodates the entire student body. According to Shelly Henderson, the director of capital projects for the district, the upgraded changing rooms and gym lockers were also designed with safety as a priority.
The revitalization of Explorer Middle School stems from a bond measure narrowly passed in 2020, which allocated funds for the school’s partial replacement among a total of $240 million designated for various improvements across the district. This financial package also includes enhancements to three elementary schools, a high school, and partial replacements for two other elementary locations.
As part of the initial phase of improvements at Explorer, the district has also constructed an auxiliary gym, a fitness room, and added support spaces. Renovations included the reconstruction of the football field and track using synthetic turf, the enhancement of walkways around the school, and the installation of an underground stormwater management system designed to prevent flooding. Construction for these projects commenced in 2024 and was successfully completed in time for the 2025-26 school year.
Looking ahead, Mukilteo School District officials are planning to approach voters in February 2026 with a proposal for a $400 million bond. This funding would not only support the final stages of the Explorer Middle School replacement but would also focus on addressing several other critical facilities needs. The centerpiece of this new funding request includes the $134.7 million completion of Explorer itself, which originally opened its doors in 1973. The school underwent renovations in 1989 and 2005, but the upcoming bond aims to provide a comprehensive solution to its infrastructural needs.
Additional initiatives proposed in the 2026 bond include an $88 million project to entirely replace Mukilteo Elementary School and plans for Serene Lake Elementary and Olivia Park Elementary. Furthermore, the bond would fund a $27 million expansion of the Kamiak High School gym, new synthetic turf fields at select schools, and necessary maintenance such as fire alarm replacements across the district.
With a student population exceeding 15,000, the Mukilteo School District serves not only Mukilteo but also parts of Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, and unincorporated areas of Snohomish County. This growing community is poised for enhancements that reflect the evolving educational needs of its students.
