Several area schools dealing with ongoing building projects

Aug. 08--GOSHEN -- For students at several local school districts, back to school also means heading back to construction zones.

As students at Goshen Community Schools and Bethany Christian Schools returned to class this week, a few bulldozers, construction workers and unfinished building projects were there to greet them.

Goshen schools broke ground earlier this week on two major projects at the high school and middle school, in addition to some smaller projects at other schools.

Bethany Christian continues work on the school's roof and the addition of a heating and cooling system that will eventually help make way for more sustainable and energy-efficient learning, according to school leaders.

Although the ongoing construction -- expected to continue for more than a year -- can create headaches for parents and some distractions to the school day, it's part of a continuous process of keeping schools up-to-date, officials explained.

Goshen Community Schools

Goshen schools broke ground Monday on two projects that will be in the works for more than a year.

"That's going to be our largest and most exciting project," Superintendent Diane Woodworth said.

In addition to other renovations, the $17.15 million in building projects includes the construction of a pool at the middle school to replace the current pools at the middle and high schools.

In late July, the Board of Directors of the Goshen Community School Corporation approved $12.360 million for the middle school piece of construction. Ancon Construction of Goshen was selected to build the new swimming pool.

Site work on the pool will begin this week and the concrete foundation will be poured in September, according to John Place of Ancon Construction.

Other projects, including a larger lunchroom at the middle school and improved music facilities at the high school, will follow.

If all goes as expected, the additions will be completed by the summer of 2015 and the grand opening of the pool will be in December 2015.

The construction will likely cause some headaches for parents as they drop students off and pick them up at the middle school, Woodworth said.

"It's going to be a little inconvenient, but the results are going to be well worth it," she said.

Other summer projects included a $91,000 playground at Chamberlain Elementary School and new carpeting in some sections of West Goshen and Chandler elementary schools and Goshen Middle School.

Bethany Christian Schools

Visitors at Bethany Christian Schools might notice a series of projects happening across the school's campus, but it's all part of one large project, said Kevin Miller, Bethany's Communications Coordinator.

The building projects are all interconnected as part of the Capital Campaign for Sustainability to fund $5.6 million in energy-efficient green technology, computer technology and other needs, Miller said.

"There are a combination of things going on and it's all connected," he said.

This week, equipment in the north parking lot worked to create a geothermal well field and controls where a new heating and cooling system will eventually connect to the underground water.

And on top of the building, workers continued the process of prepping for new support beams to create a roof above the existing structure.

It's a little noisy at times, but students aren't likely to be disrupted by what's happening outdoors, Miller said. Renovations to the inside of the school are complete or close enough that school will be able to continue around the unfinished areas, he explained.

"We're able to operate classes and everything, but some of that construction is going to last well into October," he said. "There are a lot of pieces and parts involved."

But the construction won't end there, he added.

The second phase of the project is expected to begin in summer 2015 and includes installing solar panels and a wind turbine, replacement of windows and doors and moving the school's art room to the main academic building.

Other area schools

At Wawasee Community Schools, workers have been focused on making some necessary repairs after storms ripped through the area, Superintendent Tom Edington said.

"Our campus got clobbered by the July 1 storm, so instead of construction mode, we've been in repairing mode, fixing fences, dugouts, shelters and taking away trees that were toppled," he said.

The initial insurance estimate for the cost of damage is approximately $66,000, he said.

"We had other projects in mind, but right now we had to focus on that emergency work to clear our cross country course and fix our outdoor area," Edington said.

Visitors might also notice improvements such as a newly-paved and repaired track and new baskets and hangers in the annex gymnasium. The main gymnasium is also receiving energy-efficient lights, a sound system and a new heating an air conditioning system to replace the original from the late 1960s.

Also coming soon is a new building near the football field and track area for restrooms and concessions. The project was delayed as workers waited for the piles of snow that had to be collected in the construction area.

"That tough winter greatly pushed back our plans for the various projects, especially with all that snow in the way," Edington said.

All of the work is progressing, but won't be finished before school begins Tuesday, he said.

Westview School Corporation completed a new parking lot and sidewalk on the north side of Topeka Elementary School and installed new carpet in Westview Elementary School and at Westview Jr./Sr. High School, said Superintendent Randy Zimmerly.

Westview students also return to class Tuesday.

Northridge Middle School students may notice new carpeting and paint in the cafeteria and improvements in the gymnasium, Middlebury Community Schools Superintendent Jane Allen said. Students return to class Wednesday.

Middlebury Elementary School has new windows on three stories and improvements to the gym, and York Elementary School has a new public announcement and fire alarm system.

Also new is a computer lab at Heritage Intermediate School and all elementary schools received electrical upgrades in computer labs, school officials said.

Follow Julie on Twitter @jcrothers_tgn

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