A facade collapsed at this South Tacoma elementary school. Here’s what happened
Part of the facade at Edison Elementary School in South Tacoma collapsed suddenly on Friday, Jan. 30.
The incident took place about 15 minutes after dismissal. Tacoma Public Schools spokesperson Kathryn McCarthy said no one was injured. The district’s facilities team believes it was the result of water damage, and the district is still in the process of determining next steps for the damage, McCarthy said.
“The front entrance of the school has been secured and is not accessible,” she wrote in a statement. “Drop off and pick up have been rerouted to the north side of the school until repairs can be completed.”
The incident comes as the district is seeking voter approval for two levies in a special election on Feb. 10. Tacoma Public Schools’ Proposition 1 would cover costs like repairs and maintenance, plumbing and heating — though the district doesn’t have a specific list of projects that the levy would fund.
Angel Morton, president of the Tacoma Education Association, said staff at the school are concerned about the building’s structural safety and air quality following the collapse.
“There is a mildew smell, and with that much moisture in the facade of the building, there is bound to be mold,” she wrote to The News Tribune.
A spokesperson for the Tacoma Federation of Education Support Professionals did not immediately return a request for comment.
This story was originally published February 4, 2026 at 5:15 AM.
