District to employ new building renovations

Last spring, a vote at Westside polling places allowed facilities bond issue to be passed. The district sold a number of bonds to allow new schools to be built, increase security and safety in existing schools, remodels and other additional features to schools in the Westside district.

In the 2013-2014 school year, an architecture and engineering firm called DLR Group surveyed the Westside buildings to see what needed to be done. It was decided that the schools would be finished over the course of three phases, each of which is to last about five years.

According to the Westside Chief Financial Officer, Bob Zagozda, Phase I began over the 2015-2016 winter break in the WHS West Campus, which houses the Career Center and CAPS Program. The crews are currently renovating the lower level of the building to house the WHS Career Center and CAPS Program.

The Career Center and CAPS students moved downstairs after spring break, and will have no access to the upper level, unless they are using the gymnasium. The upper level will be renovated throughout the spring and summer to be used as a “swing” school for the elementary schools to use while under reconstruction over the next four years. Oakdale will be the first to use the swing school as a new school is going to start being built this summer, and concluding in two years.

Beginning this the summer, Westside Middle School will also be going under renovations. A new building will be built between the main building and LifeLab (the Engineering and Technology and Family and Consumer Sciences labs), to replace the portables. Construction will begin in the summer and conclude in December of 2017.

Phase I will also include addressing high-priority needs and increased security vestibules in six buildings. Hillside, Loveland, Paddock Road, Rockbrook, Westgate and Westbrook will all be receiving these high-priority needs and security updates. This phase will not conclude until after the Oakdale, Swanson and Sunset Hills new schools are finished and the Prairie Lane remodel concludes in 2021.

As stated in the plan published by the district, Phase II will begin in 2022 and includes plans for remodeling Paddock Road, Rockbrook, Hillside and Westbrook. It also includes addressing high-priority needs at Underwood Hills and the ABC building. Westgate plans to be completely reconstructed. This phase will end in 2028, entering Phase III, including a new Loveland and WHS renovation.

There are people who think the money put aside on these renovations could be used on budget cuts instead; however, according to Zagozda, it doesn’t work that way. The money on the bonds that the district sold and the district budget are housed in two separate bank accounts and it is impossible to move money from one account to the other.

As the district gets further into the project, the district will sell more bonds so they may finish the final two phases. With these renovations, the district plans to improve the learning environment for the students.