Building for the Future

The future of the Gilbert Community School District moved in a positive direction Friday morning with the official ground breaking ceremony at the site of the new elementary building.

With Gilbert Superintendent Dr. Christine Trujillo, Gilbert Elementary Principal Staci Edwards, all five members of the school board — President Josh Bennett, Vice President Andrew Ricklefs, Melissa Pearson, Mindy Rash, and Nathan Kerns — several teachers, and an excited bunch of kindergarten students among those in attendance, dirt was moved to officially signify the start of the construction process.

“The ground breaking symbolizes the future of Gilbert Schools,” Dr. Trujillo said. “By having community members and kindergartners there, it represented building on our rich history while also building into the future for generations to come.”

The new Gilbert Elementary is scheduled to be completed in late spring or early summer of 2026 with the goal of opening to students to start the 2026-27 school year. The kindergarten students who took part in Friday’s ground breaking ceremony, all of whom are second-, third-, or fourth-generation Gilbert students, will be among the initial second-grade class to learn in the new building.

Several members of the team from CMBA Architects — the firm that Gilbert CSD is working with on the design of all of its upcoming construction projects — were present for the ceremony. 

Community members Gene Upstill, Donna Holtan, and Sharon Popp were also in attendance. Mrs. Holtan was a teacher at Gilbert Elementary when the current building opened to students in 1976, and she was excited to be present for the start of what will be the future of Gilbert Elementary.

With the new secured front entrance at Gilbert Middle School almost complete, and additional construction projects at Gilbert High School coming soon, it’s an exciting time in our district. Gilbert Schools is planning for the future of the district, one with more students and more opportunities.

The new Gilbert Elementary and a number of other construction projects scheduled are all possible due to the bond initiative that community members supported overwhelmingly in November of 2023.

“I’m so grateful to our community for voting yes to help us build for generations to come,” Dr. Trujillo said.