Leeds rushes to be ready
Construction crews, faculty rush to be ready at Leeds
By Earl Horlyk, Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008
With a definite deadline looming, Brown Construction employees from left, Robin Risner, Memo Palomino and Jose Cruz work to finish a playground area Monday at Leeds Elementary School. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
SIOUX CITY -- As she looks out into the sprawling hallway of Leeds Elementary School, Rita Vannatta said she can't help but be overwhelmed by the grandeur of her new school.
Yet Vannatta, the school's principal, also knows that Leeds' 600 preschool through fifth grade students will still be greeted by the sounds of workmen busily putting the finishing touches on the 92,631-square-foot building when it opens today. The building will houe students from the old Leeds school and the former Hawthorne and Lowell schools.
"Perhaps, this will give the children a new career option," Vannatta said, putting a positive spin on the situation as an electrician works nearby.
"Construction workers, plumbers and electricians are very noble professions," she said with a sigh. "I'm sure our students will soon be very appreciative of their handiwork."
According to Mel McKern, the Sioux City Community School District's director of operations and maintenance, work on both Leeds and the district's other new school opening today, Unity Elementary, are "substantially completed." Both have received certificates of occupancy.
McKern said the fine-tuning may take anywhere from 30 days to 18 months to complete.
As he makes arrangements for the district's landscapers to lay sod onto Leeds' expansive field for next week, McKern said recent heavy rains put his crews more than two weeks behind schedule.
"Whenever you get three to four inches of rain over a very short period of time it sets everything back," he said. "It affected our guys just as much as it did the construction crews."
Despite the setbacks, Sheryl Cripps realizes she must persevere.
"Crunch time is here," Cripps, a library assistant at Leeds, said as she unpacked a box full of books, "and we're definitely feeling it."
Cripps, along with her fellow library assistant Sue Ullrich, arranged reading materials this week that came from three different schools. Both marvelled at the size of their new digs.
Also happy with her new accommodations is Donna Walsh.
"We have four new computers, three white boards, new maps, a new laptop and a new globe," the second-grade teacher said. "It's wonderful."
Walsh, who last year taught at Hawthorne, said the spacious classroom size will allow her to house all of her teaching materials at school. For years, she stored school supplies in her basement at home.
"I don't know who's happier with this move," she said, jokingly. "Me or my husband."
The move is especially significant to Walsh's fellow second-grade teacher Jamie Bryce.
"Being in a handicapped-accessible school means freedom to me," said Bryce, who's confined to a wheelchair. "I'll finally be able to go from part of the school to the another."
For third-graders Amanda Stabile and Kacie Vogel, attending a new school is both intimidating and stimulating.
"Hawthorne was the only school I've ever gone to," Kacie said, eyeing her new classroom for the first time. "Coming to a new school will take some getting used to."
But both Kacie and Amanda said they're looking forward to the new school year.
"We're excited about meeting up with our old friends," Amanda said, "plus making a whole batch of new ones."
If many students will be meeting each other for the first time today, Leeds assistnat principal Scott Schubert said the teachers won't be facing similar first-day jitters. Teachers from the three schools have been involved in professional development for more than a year.
Despite the last-minute construction, Schubert said he's convinced that opening day will go off without a hitch.
"We'll be ready," he said confidently. "We're going to make it happen."
Yet Vannatta, the school's principal, also knows that Leeds' 600 preschool through fifth grade students will still be greeted by the sounds of workmen busily putting the finishing touches on the 92,631-square-foot building when it opens today. The building will houe students from the old Leeds school and the former Hawthorne and Lowell schools.
"Perhaps, this will give the children a new career option," Vannatta said, putting a positive spin on the situation as an electrician works nearby.
"Construction workers, plumbers and electricians are very noble professions," she said with a sigh. "I'm sure our students will soon be very appreciative of their handiwork."
According to Mel McKern, the Sioux City Community School District's director of operations and maintenance, work on both Leeds and the district's other new school opening today, Unity Elementary, are "substantially completed." Both have received certificates of occupancy.
McKern said the fine-tuning may take anywhere from 30 days to 18 months to complete.
As he makes arrangements for the district's landscapers to lay sod onto Leeds' expansive field for next week, McKern said recent heavy rains put his crews more than two weeks behind schedule.
"Whenever you get three to four inches of rain over a very short period of time it sets everything back," he said. "It affected our guys just as much as it did the construction crews."
Despite the setbacks, Sheryl Cripps realizes she must persevere.
"Crunch time is here," Cripps, a library assistant at Leeds, said as she unpacked a box full of books, "and we're definitely feeling it."
Cripps, along with her fellow library assistant Sue Ullrich, arranged reading materials this week that came from three different schools. Both marvelled at the size of their new digs.
Also happy with her new accommodations is Donna Walsh.
"We have four new computers, three white boards, new maps, a new laptop and a new globe," the second-grade teacher said. "It's wonderful."
Walsh, who last year taught at Hawthorne, said the spacious classroom size will allow her to house all of her teaching materials at school. For years, she stored school supplies in her basement at home.
"I don't know who's happier with this move," she said, jokingly. "Me or my husband."
The move is especially significant to Walsh's fellow second-grade teacher Jamie Bryce.
"Being in a handicapped-accessible school means freedom to me," said Bryce, who's confined to a wheelchair. "I'll finally be able to go from part of the school to the another."
For third-graders Amanda Stabile and Kacie Vogel, attending a new school is both intimidating and stimulating.
"Hawthorne was the only school I've ever gone to," Kacie said, eyeing her new classroom for the first time. "Coming to a new school will take some getting used to."
But both Kacie and Amanda said they're looking forward to the new school year.
"We're excited about meeting up with our old friends," Amanda said, "plus making a whole batch of new ones."
If many students will be meeting each other for the first time today, Leeds assistnat principal Scott Schubert said the teachers won't be facing similar first-day jitters. Teachers from the three schools have been involved in professional development for more than a year.
Despite the last-minute construction, Schubert said he's convinced that opening day will go off without a hitch.
"We'll be ready," he said confidently. "We're going to make it happen."
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insider wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:15 PM: