Twenty-four hours after cutting the ribbon at the new Rocky Heights Elementary School, Hermiston School District officials and community members gathered Wednesday evening to do the same at the district’s newest school – Loma Vista Elementary.
“Thank you to our community for bringing us here today,” said Superintendent Dr. Tricia Mooney.
Loma Vista is the district’s sixth elementary school. Voters passed an $82.7 million bond in November 2019 that cleared the way for the district to build the new school, build a new Rocky Heights, construct a multi-classroom annex at the high school, as well as purchase land for future needs. Loma Vista, in the words of Mooney, is a “mirror image” of the new Rocky Heights. The building is 69,000 square feet and has a 600-student capacity.
The name Loma Vista, which means Hill View, was chosen in a community survey in 2020. Other top contenders were Artemisa Elementary School (Sagebrush Elementary School) and La Senda Elementary School (The Pathway Elementary School). With almost 600 responses, Loma Vista Elementary School was the clear winner.
As was the case on Tuesday, a large crowd turned out for the event and the halls, gym and classrooms were buzzing with excited students and their parents.
School Board Chair Josh Goller said the two new elementary schools make a statement about Hermiston.
“It’s apparent to me that we have an outstanding community,” he said. “Great communities have great schools. Hermiston has a bright future and we are happy to celebrate the opening of Loma Vista tonight.”
