|
Three years of planning culminates with new Indian Lake Elementary
School The new Indian Lake Elementary School is ready for its debut Wednesday, just over three years after the district’s board of education voted unanimously to ask voters to approve a bond issue for the construction. “There are so many smiles,” said Diane Gillespie, lead principal who moved into her position from the middle school. “Aug. 3 was our first move-in day ... and I know we had over 20 teachers file into the building just as soon as they could get in. It’s so exciting. They have a beautiful new home, but they’re so appreciative.” Associate Principal Kyle Wagner moved from Huntsville Elementary School. The $18.5 million, 28-year bond for the state-of-the-art facility was approved by voters in November 2006, with ground broken in May 2008. So far, the project remains under budget. The approximately 92,000-square-foot facility will house up to 775 students, with the current kindergarten through fourth-grade population at 630. Though projections show flat growth, “we wanted to make sure that the building has some room to grow, and we’re thinking that a projection is just a projection,” Superintendent Dr. Bill McGlothlin said. The building is laid out in sections, called pods by the school, with one wing each for kindergarten, for first and second grades, and for third and fourth grades. Each wing features a circular design with classrooms on the outside and a work area, additional classrooms or restrooms in the middle. Each kindergarten classroom has its own restroom. “Once you get into each pod, things just circle,” Mrs. Gillespie explained. “It’s a really smart layout.” In the middle of the three pods is the media center/library, which features carpet and tile meant to represent a river, fish and pebbles. The ceiling is designed to represent a cloudy sky. Featured are an outdoor courtyard and reading area. Ferguson Construction of Sidney primarily was responsible for executing the design by Amy Sudhoff, an interior designer with Fanning/Howey out of Celina. “Everyone knows how fortunate we are,” Mrs. Gillespie said. “If it weren’t for the community, we wouldn’t be here. We know we’re lucky.” Every classroom is equipped with several Mac computers, and has energy efficient lights that turn on or off automatically by sensing movement in the room. The building, behind the current middle and high schools, replaces Huntsville Elementary School, built in 1912, and Lakeview Elementary School, built in 1928 with an addition in 1954. “Both of those buildings had some technology issues to the point that you couldn’t turn on a whole bank of computers without the circuit breaker throwing,” Dr. McGlothlin said. “This building was built with technology in mind for today’s use, but we’re also looking at the future. What is going to be the norm for delivery of instructional services 10, 15, 20 years down the road?” There were also health and safety concerns at the old buildings, as well as over-crowded classrooms. One campus will allow for greater interaction among the buildings, and principals already have begun discussing peer tutoring with older students coming to read to younger students. Plans are still being formulated for an event allowing the community to visit the vacated buildings. No demolition dates have been set, and discussions are ongoing about what will be done with the land afterward. A brief dedication ceremony and celebration of the new building is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. It will also include a tour of the building and refreshments. “We’re really happy, and it’s been a team effort,” Dr. McGlothlin said. “It’s not the superintendent or the board — it’s a team effort. We had dozens of meetings ... and the teachers were very involved. We really wanted (their) input.” |