Chisholm Students, Community Tour New Elementary School in Soft Opening

Lisa Perkovich marked the ribbon-cutting soft opening that gave Chisholm students and community members a first look inside the new Pre-school through grade 6 building attached to Chisholm High School. The ceremony took place at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 5, followed by an open house and guided tours led by school staff and student volunteers until 7 p.m., and students in fourth through sixth grade began classes in the new space the same day.

The move caps a multi-year construction project that officials described as creating a unified, modern Pre-K through grade 12 campus and, in the district’s words, “moved over a hundred years of history into the new school,” a change district leaders said marked a significant transition for students and staff. School leaders staged occupancy: grades 4–6 started March 5 and preschool through grade three are scheduled to join the building at the start of the 2026/2027 school year.

District planning emphasized flexible, student-centered learning spaces. The new building includes flexible classrooms and a learning commons on each floor designed to encourage collaboration, small group instruction, and active learning, plus large classrooms with abundant natural light, a new kitchen and cafeteria/commons area, and a new playground outside to support student wellness and recreation. Perkovich, speaking at the soft opening, said, “These new spaces allow teaching and learning to look different than they have in the past. From flexible classrooms to shared learning commons, this building supports more active instruction and gives the students the room they need to collaborate, move, and grow. These improvements reflect our commitment to the future of Chisholm.”

The open house portion of the soft opening featured guided tours through classrooms and common spaces and alumni who recorded legacy videos at the old building. Perkovich recalled the energy of the first day inside the new facility: “Our kids today came in through the front door, our staff was there, our community was there giving them high fives. Hooting and hollering, trying to hype up some of that energy throughout the day. They’ve been excited and touring and really trying to take care of their space.”

Students voiced optimism about new opportunities. Hudson Roche, a junior, contrasted the new building with the old: “It’s getting pretty old. You can kind of see it throughout the years. Just being there for three years, you kind of notice ‘Oh, maybe that’s not the best,'” Roche said. “Definitely out-styled, outdated, kind of thing… We’re trying to get Chisholm like the best future we can.” Eighth grader Kalle Caudullo said she hopes the larger gym and facilities will draw events: “I hope that we get a host of more like events here, like basketball tournaments and volleyball tournaments, because the other school wasn’t quite big enough to actually have like a good tournament,” Caudullo said. “I hope kids like actually want to learn and like they hope to get a better education.”

Organizers noted athletics and activities were a major focus of the improvements and that the new spaces are intended to support more active instruction and community events. A separate media account included the phrase “plenty of gun activities in the new gym,” a wording that appears to be a transcription error and does not match descriptions of sporting and community programming at the open house. Superintendent Perkovich framed the project as a draw for families and local investment: “Our hope is that this type of an environment and increasing our educational opportunities brings them back home to us. Seeing our community outpouring of love for it is something that just gives you chills.”