The Lakeside School District's construction of a new junior high school, primary and intermediate cafeterias, a performing arts building, practice field and playground updates are all on schedule and within budget, Superintendent Shawn Cook said.
"We told patrons the projects would be completed in time to start school for the 2021-2022 school year. We are on schedule to meet that time frame," Cook said.
The projects are being funded by a 4 mill increase that was approved in May 2018 and will provide approximately $40 million in funds for the building projects.
"When we passed the millage in May of '18, then we had a year, really, to build it on paper. It's very detailed, and you need that whole year to do it. But we're still working on it," Cook said. "We did all the bones of the buildings within that year, and now we're working on the inside stuff. We're meeting weekly with our construction team, which is B & F Engineering Inc., Hill & Cox Corp., David French (of French Architects). We bring in our principals that are involved in the buildings, and they're meeting with their teachers. We're going to stay within the $40 million for the structures."
Construction not yet started, but Cook said to look for a public groundbreaking ceremony to take place sometime in August, "right before school starts, probably."
Currently, the new practice field has an anticipated start date of Aug. 19 and a projected end date of Jan. 17, 2020. The field, which is the first in the series slated for completion, will be covered in artificial turf and serve as an area for band, football and soccer practices. It will run parallel to Malvern Avenue, near the middle school entrance, he said.
The old practice field will be the site of the new junior high building, which is set to begin construction on Nov. 4 and finish in August 2021.
The two-story, 90,000-square-foot structure will feature 40 classrooms.
"We were at the point where we had grown so much that we need a separate school for junior high. When I got here, we had 2,500 kids and now we have 3,500 kids," Cook said.
He said an additional junior high building housing seventh- and eighth-graders will provide about 10 years' worth of room for growth to the current middle school and high school buildings. He anticipates 600 students to enter the new junior high building, though it will have a capacity of 725.
"It's going to relieve the high school and middle school a significant amount. We grow about 75 kids per year," Cook said.
Security features are receiving particular attention in the new building projects.
"Each building, like the junior high, primary and intermediate areas, are going to have new entries. All of those will have chambers that you go into with bulletproof glass. If someone comes in there, they can't just walk in the building. There'll be a little window they can slide their document under, get their background check, then they can be buzzed in," he said.
Not only will safety be enhanced, but the learning and working experience as well, he said.
"I've always thought that your atmosphere has a big impact on people's decision making. Most of the time, the first impression is big, especially if you're moving from out of state and just looking at all the schools in the area. That's going to mean something to you. But for our kids, teachers and employees that are here every day, I just believe in having a great atmosphere because I think it makes you feel better and work harder."
Cook said he feels the district's performing arts program will especially benefit from the new performing arts building, which is set to begin construction on Sept. 2 and end in August 2021. It will be a stand-alone building connected to the high school by a corridor.
"What I always say is when you give great employees great tools, they can do more. We have a great fine arts department, but I really think it's going to allow them to expand. I've asked them for their wish list for that auditorium, and we're going to try to deliver as much of that as we can."
One such wish that is coming true is for a stage large enough to showcase the entire 150-or-so member Lakeside High School band. This is impossible on the school's current auditorium stage.
The performing arts center will also feature a 1,200-seat auditorium, which Cook said he hoped would make the school an appealing venue for more events in the future.
The auditorium and stage will also be equipped with lights, audio and visual equipment, broadcasting components, a makeup room, prop construction shop, dressing room, and costume storage, among other features.
To further accommodate the growing school population, primary and intermediate cafeteria additions will begin construction on Jan. 6, 2020, with the intention of being finished in August 2021.
"The cafeterias we have for the number of kids we do are so small. They're like sardines packed in there. Now, they're really going to have some great space," Cook said.
District playgrounds will also be updated with artificial turf, and over 100 new parking spots are planned to be added by the end of all the projects' completions.
While Cook said he does not anticipate the hiring of many new personnel for the new facilities, he did say that an assistant junior high principal and possibly a counselor position will need to be filled.
"We talk about it at our districtwide meetings, and everybody is really excited about it. When you're growing, and you're able to have some new facilities, that excites everybody; when they see the benefits for their kids," Cook said.
Local on 06/27/2019