WCHS Construction Keeps Moving Ahead
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The student population at Warsaw Community High School set a record this year - 2,033.
As the WCHS building project nears its completion date of September 2006, those students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including a performing arts center.
Tuesday, Principal Dr. Jennifer Brumfield and Assistant Principal Jennifer Shepherd talked about the high school construction project.
Contractors told Brumfield the auditorium should be completed by June, even with "normal" delays such as wrong materials being delivered.
Shepherd said the 980-seat auditorium is equipped with a Vortec Rigging System for the curtains and other stage equipment. The system is safer for student use and WCHS is one of only 10 high schools in the country to have the state-of-the-art system. The rigging system also is more functional for outside people who may use the auditorium.
Shepherd said the PAC will allow plenty of opportunities for uses other than theater, band and choir. The black box theater in the PAC can be used for smaller gatherings and events. It can be rearranged and seats about 100.
The PAC also has a multi-purpose room and a kitchenette for banquets and receptions. Display cases will be installed to show student art. The radio and television studios will be in the PAC and the lobby will include a rotunda.
"The auditorium at Lakeview Middle School is very difficult to schedule because of all the (events) that go on in there," said Shepherd. With the new facilities at WCHS, Lakeview will be more accessible.
Storage space for costumes, props and scenery has been a problem for years at the school. The new facility will be able to house all of it.
A loading dock on the PAC will help the band load and unload equipment.
On the south side of the building, Shepherd said, the band can practice on the parking lot. "They can just go out and come back in," she said.
The new band room will be flat floored, not tiered, and the ceiling is high. The old band room will become a lecture room.
Shepherd said they hope to have a grand opening for the PAC next fall.
Brumfield said the multi-purpose room in the PAC will be used for dance. Many local students take dance formally in the area and their talent is only seen at recitals, said Brumfield. Dance is the only part of the arts not supported by WCHS, but that will change.
Shepherd and Brumfield said the PAC will help and encourage students already nationally recognized for their endeavors in the arts.
Having the PAC and new athletic fields at WCHS will decrease the need for busing and renting of other facilities. "Eventually," said Shepherd, "this project will pay for itself."
More than 90 acres is being developed at WCHS to keep students here, said Brumfield.
The PAC isn't the only new space at the school.
Lunch shifts for the 2,033 students overlap and the new cafeteria increases seating capacity by about 200. "The cafeteria is awesome," said Brumfield. With more seating and four serving lines, she said students feel less hurried to get through lunch. The floor is tile instead of carpet, new tables and chairs were added, and there's not really a noise issue, she said.
The cafeteria was enlarged in three directions. It was opened into the courtyard, extended eastward toward the main building and a snack bar was built to the south.
"(Students) feel they can get their food, relax and eat," said Brumfield.
In the Career Center, the air conditioning system was replaced, as was the chiller. Each classroom is hooked up to a conduit to bring in fresh air from the outside. Ultraviolet light kills allergens before they get in. "That will be a huge, positive step," said Brumfield.
The main entrance to WCHS by the "U" and teacher parking lot doesn't look like a main entrance. Come fall - spring at the latest - work will begin to move the main entrance for better security. A canopy will be added to the area outside the main offices.
Another benefit to all this work, said Brumfield, is once the PAC is open, more classes will be open to the school for use.
Outside the building, the football field is completed and the track is being finished. There is seating for 4,200 and the first football game at the Tiger Athletic Complex was sold out. As for the complaints about parking and traffic control at the first game, Brumfield said, "It will be improved." There apparently was a misunderstanding as to which way the traffic was to be directed. There actually are more parking spots than before, but Brumfield said that's hard to see because of the construction. But school officials are learning as they go.
The soccer fields are ready for top soil and to be seeded. Work is beginning on the softball fields. There is room for junior varsity baseball fields at some point in the future, Brumfield said. The lights on the tennis courts are on. And in the center of the athletic complex is a large building with lockerrooms, one classroom, a conference room and coaches' offices.
"I really can't think of anything we'll need once we have the facilities," said Brumfield.
She complimented the staff, especially the custodial staff, for hard work and flexibility during the building project.
"It's something the community should be proud of with all the time, energy and money that's gone into this for the kids," Brumfield said. [[In-content Ad]]
The student population at Warsaw Community High School set a record this year - 2,033.
As the WCHS building project nears its completion date of September 2006, those students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including a performing arts center.
Tuesday, Principal Dr. Jennifer Brumfield and Assistant Principal Jennifer Shepherd talked about the high school construction project.
Contractors told Brumfield the auditorium should be completed by June, even with "normal" delays such as wrong materials being delivered.
Shepherd said the 980-seat auditorium is equipped with a Vortec Rigging System for the curtains and other stage equipment. The system is safer for student use and WCHS is one of only 10 high schools in the country to have the state-of-the-art system. The rigging system also is more functional for outside people who may use the auditorium.
Shepherd said the PAC will allow plenty of opportunities for uses other than theater, band and choir. The black box theater in the PAC can be used for smaller gatherings and events. It can be rearranged and seats about 100.
The PAC also has a multi-purpose room and a kitchenette for banquets and receptions. Display cases will be installed to show student art. The radio and television studios will be in the PAC and the lobby will include a rotunda.
"The auditorium at Lakeview Middle School is very difficult to schedule because of all the (events) that go on in there," said Shepherd. With the new facilities at WCHS, Lakeview will be more accessible.
Storage space for costumes, props and scenery has been a problem for years at the school. The new facility will be able to house all of it.
A loading dock on the PAC will help the band load and unload equipment.
On the south side of the building, Shepherd said, the band can practice on the parking lot. "They can just go out and come back in," she said.
The new band room will be flat floored, not tiered, and the ceiling is high. The old band room will become a lecture room.
Shepherd said they hope to have a grand opening for the PAC next fall.
Brumfield said the multi-purpose room in the PAC will be used for dance. Many local students take dance formally in the area and their talent is only seen at recitals, said Brumfield. Dance is the only part of the arts not supported by WCHS, but that will change.
Shepherd and Brumfield said the PAC will help and encourage students already nationally recognized for their endeavors in the arts.
Having the PAC and new athletic fields at WCHS will decrease the need for busing and renting of other facilities. "Eventually," said Shepherd, "this project will pay for itself."
More than 90 acres is being developed at WCHS to keep students here, said Brumfield.
The PAC isn't the only new space at the school.
Lunch shifts for the 2,033 students overlap and the new cafeteria increases seating capacity by about 200. "The cafeteria is awesome," said Brumfield. With more seating and four serving lines, she said students feel less hurried to get through lunch. The floor is tile instead of carpet, new tables and chairs were added, and there's not really a noise issue, she said.
The cafeteria was enlarged in three directions. It was opened into the courtyard, extended eastward toward the main building and a snack bar was built to the south.
"(Students) feel they can get their food, relax and eat," said Brumfield.
In the Career Center, the air conditioning system was replaced, as was the chiller. Each classroom is hooked up to a conduit to bring in fresh air from the outside. Ultraviolet light kills allergens before they get in. "That will be a huge, positive step," said Brumfield.
The main entrance to WCHS by the "U" and teacher parking lot doesn't look like a main entrance. Come fall - spring at the latest - work will begin to move the main entrance for better security. A canopy will be added to the area outside the main offices.
Another benefit to all this work, said Brumfield, is once the PAC is open, more classes will be open to the school for use.
Outside the building, the football field is completed and the track is being finished. There is seating for 4,200 and the first football game at the Tiger Athletic Complex was sold out. As for the complaints about parking and traffic control at the first game, Brumfield said, "It will be improved." There apparently was a misunderstanding as to which way the traffic was to be directed. There actually are more parking spots than before, but Brumfield said that's hard to see because of the construction. But school officials are learning as they go.
The soccer fields are ready for top soil and to be seeded. Work is beginning on the softball fields. There is room for junior varsity baseball fields at some point in the future, Brumfield said. The lights on the tennis courts are on. And in the center of the athletic complex is a large building with lockerrooms, one classroom, a conference room and coaches' offices.
"I really can't think of anything we'll need once we have the facilities," said Brumfield.
She complimented the staff, especially the custodial staff, for hard work and flexibility during the building project.
"It's something the community should be proud of with all the time, energy and money that's gone into this for the kids," Brumfield said. [[In-content Ad]]