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NORTH WEBSTER -ÊFifth- graders gave tours to the public of the new North Webster Elementary School Tuesday during an informal open house.
Before the tours, an informal ceremony was held.
Wawasee Schools Superintendent Mark Stock gave the opening remarks and said many people "probably never thought they'd see this day." Parts of the old elementary school became unbearable, he said, and did affect the school day. The need for a new school was evident.
"There was not one remonstrator against this project and that's remarkable in today's day," Stock said.
The building itself was built larger than the present need, he said, but growth in Wawasee schools is projected to be slow and steady. The new elementary school will be able to handle the growth.
Stock said the only "extravagant" part of the school was the gym, "but it will be used repeatedly."
The other Wawasee schools also had some work done to them. Four classrooms were added to Milford Elementary and the heating, lighting, etc., were improved.
At Syracuse Elementary, storage space was added and the heating, electric, etc., were updated. The high school had its auditorium updated and was given a special education classroom.
North Webster Principal Jim Garner said, "I do want it to be fun but I also want students to be good. In order to be good, they'll have to work."
The elementary school is fortunate, he said, because a number of people volunteer at the school.
And though the taxpayers paid for the school, Garner said, it wasn't a building for them. "It's a school for kids ... and their kids. And their kids' kids. And it's for the community."
He said he was at the West Noble School Corp. for 27 years, but grew up in Leesburg.
"I feel like I'm more at home here," he said of North Webster.
