From left, are Warsaw Community Schools’ Director of Facilities Jim LeMasters; Warsaw Community High School students Benjamin Booren, Haydin Rodriguez, McKale Hagg, Keely Roe, Zechariah Prieshoff, Tassara Faulkner, and Peyton Krueger; and WCHS Principal Troy Akers. Photo provided by WCS.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Representatives with Performance Services Inc. provided an update to Warsaw Community Schools’ Board of Trustees on the ongoing renovations at Warsaw Community High School during a March 14 work session.

Project renovations at WCHS include a new front entrance, improved circulation, updated classrooms, and the addition of more collaborative spaces for students. Construction began in September 2022, with the final phase of the entire project scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.

At the board’s work session, Jerry Rolfson, senior architect at PSI, showed renderings of WCHS’s new entry stairway, collaborative commons area, and main entry alongside current images of the construction.

The current phase of the high school project is ahead of schedule and also under budget.

“Under budget, on time, and excited were the three terms I started hearing (on the project),” said WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. “Those are the words we’re hearing from students and community members. A big chunk of this (phase) is going to be finished in August. Our students are going to be seeing this soon.”

“There’s just immense excitement,” said WCS Board of Trustees’ President Heather Reichenbach. “We are fortunate and so thankful to be in a community that prioritizes safe spaces and collaborative learning environments within our schools. Providing a beautiful main entrance to welcome students and guests, this project also allows for critical updates in 30-year-old classroom spaces to ensure our students have the tools they need to succeed not only at WCHS but in any future endeavor of their choosing upon graduation.”

WCS Director of Facilities Jim LeMasters said the project overall has been very smooth, with general collaboration among those involved being good.

Several WCHS students recently toured the construction project and commented on what aspects they like the most.

“I feel like putting the counselor’s offices by the main offices is a really good idea,” said WCHS senior Haydin Rodriguez. “That was a necessary change.”

“I am most excited to see how many of the collaborative spaces will be used,” said WCHS student body president Keely Roe. “The updated look in Tiger Central will be amazing for meetings and activities of our clubs and student groups. I hope the students of future generations will appreciate the hard work and thought put into these renovations.”

The board also:

• Learned WCS is in need of more school bus drivers and will soon implement a new marketing campaign for their hiring process, which includes sign-on bonuses and stipends for referrals.
• Approved updating the district’s Title IX policy, naming Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Tracy Horrell as WCS’s Title IX coordinator.
• Heard from WCS Deputy Superintendent Dr. Dani Barkey on RoxieReading, a curriculum which focuses on brain-based literacy instruction.

The board’s next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, March 20, at the WCS central office.