PITTSBURG, Kan. — The $16.5 million college bond undertaking backed by district voters was launched Monday by Pittsburg college officers as they take intention at a 101-year-old part of Pittsburg Group Center Faculty that might be up to date to satisfy the wants of the twenty first century.

District leaders kicked off the work with a ceremonial swinging of purple sledgehammers on the staircase in entrance of the 1921 facade of the varsity, which options huge concrete pillars dealing with North Broadway Avenue.

Nook Greer and Associates Inc. in Joplin is the architectural design agency for the undertaking. Officers stated the structure of the constructing might be preserved whereas the within will sport a contemporary look.

“This endeavor isn’t just a development undertaking that may renovate a historic constructing, moderately it’s the start of a imaginative and prescient that expands the academic alternatives to all of our college students and transforms constant progress, achievement and success for our academic curriculum,” stated Richard Proffitt, superintendent of colleges. “The renovations, as soon as accomplished, will present our college students with a state-of-the-art, twenty first century studying atmosphere that’s each protected and safe.”

Voters authorised the $16.5 million college bond by 81% in a particular election Jan. 18. It covers upgrades to all 4 flooring of the historic constructing. The undertaking consists of reworking present lecture rooms with the objective of making a twenty first century studying atmosphere, a science laboratory, a renovated auditorium and an elevator for People with Disabilities Act compliance. The completion date is August 2023.

“We’re blessed in Pittsburg with a supportive group and Board of Schooling,” stated Pittsburg Group Center Faculty Principal Laura Earl. “I can wholeheartedly say that the employees right here at PCMS just isn’t solely the very best center college employees within the space however in all the state. This employees is a hardworking group of devoted people which might be scholar centered in every little thing they do, which is why they’re so profitable. The group and board’s imaginative and prescient and help for this bond difficulty have given us a profitable mixture — an outstanding employees and now a state-of-the-art facility for them to make use of.”

“It’ll … provide our college students and employees with a studying area that may assist put together them for his or her futures by offering enriched curricular alternatives,” Proffitt stated. “Further options equivalent to an elevator, assembly areas and a renovated auditorium won’t solely profit our college students, however may even permit larger group use and partnerships. We’re excited in regards to the alternatives and prospects this creates for our college students and our group, and this marks a brand new starting for USD 250 training.”

District officers consider the bond undertaking will increase careers in science, know-how, engineering and math for college kids who might be launched to it at an earlier age. This implies college students can work on receiving certifications inside their 4 years of highschool.

“We’re going to have some versatile studying areas and a state-of-the-art science lab that might be fantastic for our college students to have alternatives that may cause them to profession pathways at our highschool,” Earl stated. “We’ve been engaged on curriculum to align with the highschool.”

Throughout development, the entrance of the constructing might be blocked off. Some academics have been moved to different areas. Earl stated it might be a good squeeze subsequent 12 months, however on a regular basis operation ought to go on as regular.

The groundbreaking ceremony was emceed by Pittsburg Group Center Faculty college students Addie Broxterman and Rashaad Inexperienced, who each helped create an informational bond video that was introduced to the Board of Schooling.

“I feel it is going to be cool as a result of we’ll have the ability to do extra actions, just like the science lab,” stated Broxterman, a seventh grader. “It’s going to be actually superior.”

Inexperienced, an eighth grader, stated the undertaking upgrades might be superb and though he received’t be attending college there as soon as it’s accomplished, he’s wanting ahead to seeing different college students get pleasure from the advantages.

“The varsity has been blocked off to college students from being over right here, so now I really feel prefer it’s a tremendous alternative for brand new college students coming that get to expertise this,” he stated. “It’s a little bit unhappy, however it’s additionally very superior that I used to be right here at this time to mark it.”

For extra info the bond difficulty, go to https://www.usd250bond.com.