Playground equipment at Mission View Elementary was destroyed by fire over the Memorial Day weekend,  leaving 200 students to crowd the one remaining play structure during recess. In response to this need, the Mission View Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has created a fundraising campaign to replace the burned equipment. Donations can be made on the PTO’s GoFundMe page and at Banner Bank branches in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee.

The Wenatchee School District’s property insurance coverage carries a $10,000 deductible. This deductible cost will be covered by the District however, the replacement and installation costs of new playground equipment are estimated to range between $15,000-$40,000. Proceeds raised by the PTO would be used to replace and install the damaged equipment with a new structure says PTO treasurer, Marissa Vadnais.  Any remaining funds would be used to make needed playground enhancements and improvements.

A group of teens is suspected of starting the blaze. If found guilty, they may be required to pay restitution. “This amount is collected over time, and is usually around a dollar a month” says Mission View Elementary Jeff Jaeger. “The students at Mission View today may be parents by the time the debt is paid,” added parent and 3rd-grade Mission View teacher Sarah Brown. “There is a real sense of urgency here to replace the equipment so when our kids come back in the fall there is space for them to play”, she said. The staff at Mission View are hopeful that the funds raised will not only replace, but enhance the playground to include social emotional learning. “Play has been shown to play an important role in the social and emotional development of kids— we’d like to include that aspect in our new playground,” said Brown.

As a school, the Mission staff have turned this unfortunate event into a positive learning opportunity for their students. One of the key values at Mission View is showing respect for people and the school. They have embraced the chance to provide their students with a lesson that reinforces good decision making in both school and life.

Questions regarding the fundraising effort can be directed to Marissa Vadnais at mj_vadnais@hotmail.com