District celebrates groundbreaking of new K-8 school
The Wichita Public Schools celebrated the start of construction of its new kindergarten
– eighth-grade school in northeast Wichita with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 16. Superintendent Winston Brooks, Board of Education members Sarah Skelton and Shirley Jefferson, Mayor Carl Brewer and Cessna Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer participated in the groundbreaking celebration.
“Now is the right time, in the right location, with the right partners, and with the right focus.” Superintendent Brooks said. “We are proud that we will be able to offer a state-of-the-art facility to the neighborhood and for the students of Wichita.”
The Heights High School marching band and flag team welcomed visitors as they came to the new school site. Northeast Magnet High School JROTC cadets presented the Colors at the beginning of the celebration. At the end of the dedication, the guest speakers and three students from Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet officially “broke ground” by turning dirt with golden shovels.
The new K-8 school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008. It will be a neighborhood magnet with half of the seats reserved for neighborhood children; the other half will apply through the magnet school program. The district is intending to apply to be a primary years and middle years International Baccalaureate program. The curriculum will be delivered to all
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Heights High School’s Marching Band welcomed visitors as they arrived to the new school site. Photos by Susan Arensman |
students who attend the school. It will be the first program of its kind in Kansas. The name of the school, the principal, colors, mascot and boundaries will be determined during the 2007-2008 school year.
“Today represents a spectacular beginning to what will be a busy 16 months on this piece of land,” Superintendent Brooks said.
The school is being built near the new Boys and Girls Club and The Opportunity Project (TOPS) early childhood facility at 25th St. and Grove. Superintendent Brooks praised Russ Meyer for his vision of revitalizing that area of Wichita and expressed pleasure that the school will be a part of it.
“Just think of how many lives will be changed here,” Meyer said. “I can’t wait for the doors of this school to open in 2008.”
The new school is designed by Schaefer, Johnson, Cox and Frey and Compton Construction Corporation is the contractor. The $10.4 million, 80,000 square foot facility will be built to hold 600 students and will feature 29 general classrooms, an art room, two music rooms, a computer lab, library, parent involvement center and a multipurpose room that will also be a FEMA tornado safe room. The new school is also designed to include a privately-managed clinic to provide medical and dental services to area children with needs. The Board of Education is currently working to finalize details of the clinic construction and management.
Top photo from left, Horace Mann student Juan Lozoya, Superintendent Winston Brooks, Horace Mann student Hillary Harder, Mayor Carl Brewer, Board of Education President Sarah Skelton, Cessna Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer, Horace Mann student Patty Evans and Board of Education member Shirley Jefferson officially break ground on the district’s newest school on April 16.