ISD Breaks Ground on New Elementary School
The Independence School District broke ground on its 20th elementary school on June 29. Construction on the new elementary school is moving forward after voters passed a $38 million bond on April 4 with an overwhelming majority of 84.95% support.
District leaders, community members and representatives from Nabholz and Hollis + Miller Architects broke ground at the site of the new elementary school in a ceremony celebrating the future of the district.
“So many of you were integral in the passage of our bond which has allowed us to build this new school, to reduce overcrowding and continue to provide the very best education for our students,” Independence School District board president Jill Esry said.
The elementary school will open in the summer of 2019 with a capacity of 450-500 students and will be equipped with the latest technology, including an expansive media center and collaborative student work spaces for enrichment and small group opportunities. Students will be in a one-to-one setting with Chromebooks and Project Lead The Way as an additional curricular component.
“This groundbreaking highlights our community support, shows the progress we’ve promised our voters and celebrates the growth and future of the Independence School District,” Superintendent Dr. Dale Herl said.
Additional Bond Projects
Projects outlined in the bond will ease overcrowding, eliminate all mobile trailers in the district and advance the Academy model for all ISD high school students by adding and enhancing classrooms for STEM, Culinary, Vocational and Business coursework.
At Van Horn High School, the bond will pay for instructional space for our Culinary Pathway, adding five commercial kitchens to be used by students from all three high schools. A new competition gym will be added with locker rooms, concession stands and a mezzanine for wrestling and seating. At Van Horn, the bond will add a metals classroom, wood shop, remodel science classrooms and add a physical therapy and athletic training classroom space for the Academies.
At William Chrisman, the bond will pay for four additional classrooms, including two Cisco computer networking rooms for the Academies. A weight room will be added, allowing the wrestling room to move to the existing weight room. At Chrisman, the bond will remodel science classrooms and add a physical therapy and athletic training classroom space for the Academies.
At Truman High School, the bond will pay for a new entry and exterior upgrades, addressing safety concerns and modernizing the building exterior. Four additional classrooms will be added, moving four math classrooms out of the mobile trailers and into the school. At Truman, the bond will expand and remodel the lunchroom, remodel science classrooms and add a physical therapy and athletic training classroom space for the Academies.