One of the many USD 353 construction projects will be the building of the new Wellington Middle School auxiliary gym and revamped parking lot. With the start of the 2015-16 school year, a new “drop off and pick up” policy will immediately go into effect. This procedure will eventually be the normal routine for WMS after the gym is built. More details of this route and other construction news is listed below.

by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow — Enrollment for the four elementary schools had to be moved to a central location due to construction in Wellington Schools. Even so, school officials say classes will begin Aug. 18 as scheduled. Construction will continue into 2017 thanks to a bond issue which passed in June 2014 by area voters to upgrade the schools and make them safer.

The project began in late May with an anticipated completion date of spring 2017, according to Wellington Superintendent Rick Weiss.

“Last week, we had to move enrollment for the elementary schools to a central location at the high school, as construction is still being done on the buildings,” Weiss said.

Walz, Harman and Huffman of Kechi, Kan. was awarded the bid, after the $11.2 million bond issue passed last summer.

“We have been told that the buildings will be ready for students when school starts, although construction will continue all year,” Weiss said.

Currently, the offices are still being constructed at Washington and Lincoln elementary schools. The new offices will be a “safe” entrance, designed so that anyone entering the building will walk directly into the office first, Weiss said.

“This will make it harder for an armed assailant to enter the classrooms,” Weiss said. “You can’t stop them, but can maybe slow them down and get law enforcement there sooner if needed. Unfortunately, this day and age, you have to think about that.”

FEMA storm shelters, or “safe rooms” are being built at Roosevelt School and Eisenhower Elementary, as they were the only schools in the district lacking them. The room will double as a music room for the Eisenhower. Kennedy Elementary classrooms are being reconstructed, and a new heat and air system is also being installed at Washington.

The middle school parking lot is being reconstructed, so a temporary drop-off and pick-up location has been established. They will also receive a new gym.

“The middle school projects will be the last to see work on, especially the parking lot, as they want to make sure the other projects are completed first,” Weiss said.

For those with middle school students, patrons and visitors, the drop-off and pick-up procedure will be different than in the past during construction (see illustration above). Beginning the first day of school, enter the parking lot off of 9th street and up the ramp, make an immedate left at the top of the ramp, and do not proceed north across the parking lot. The new route follows the fence line and brings the driver up to a designated drop-off and pick-up location.

There are map available at the Wellington Middle School. Just call the middle school at 326-4320 for assistance.

The high school is also receiving new offices with a safe entrance. When everything is done, Weiss said, all district staff will have identification cards instead of a traditional key,  as will the students. All schools will also be receiving security cameras.

“It will be a system to make it more secure,” Weiss said.