Chief Tahgee Elementary Academy set to open new 20,000 square foot building
Exterior main entrance of the new Chief Tahgee Elementary Academy building set to open on Monday, January 5, 2026.
By LIZZIE BOYD
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Chief Tahgee Elementary Academy is set to open their new school building on January 5, 2026 at 3 p.m. when parents, children, and the community can view the new facility.
The contractor broke ground on the new school back in May and is set to be finished before the new year. Lee Barkell IT person said, “In seven months we have gone from dirt and twigs to full fledge 20,000 square foot school.”
There is a total of nine classrooms, and the language class also has its own room. Each classroom will have its own promethean board (an interative touch screen display to engage learning) to utilize for teaching. Each student will also be able to utilize their own Chromebook while at school. The school will have Wi-Fi access.
The school will now have its own cafeteria, but until all equipment is received and set up the school will continue to share the Recreation Departments kitchen where food is prepped for the students. The cafeteria is also connected to the gym area of the school. Staff is excited to also be able to set up the gym area for the students as they haven’t had a gym before. The old school area only had a playset outside.
The main hallway interior of the new CTEA building.
The south end of the school is where the main office is located, there will be signage directing visitors to the main door, it will be a secured area, parents or guardians will be able to utilize an iPad to check students in or out and can also see the main office secretary. The school plans to post a sign and a small video with directions on where to access the main entrance. The school will also have cameras installed for security for the students and will have a bell system installed which the old school did not have.
The plans also include paving the parking lot, but that will be down the road, as that is an expensive cost and the school would like to prioritize the main building for now.
Barkell said the remaining school year will be a chance to work out the bugs and flaws and be fully prepared for the new school year fall of 2026.
