Limestone-Walters School District Construction Updates

As you can see the building addition is making great progress. The weather has certainly cooperated. Next Tuesday the steel is going to be delivered in the morning at the east entrance. Therefore, our buses may need to use the center entrance to drop off students. We still ask that everyone use the west entrance when dropping off students in the morning. However, we ask that you use extra caution that morning because students may be exiting buses in the center entrance. We do not anticipate any issues in the afternoon. Again, Tuesday is the date we have been told but that could change so be prepared any day next week. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Tim Dotson, Superintendent

As you may recall, last spring we sent out a letter detailing some of the plans we had for the building and land.  At this point, I want to give everyone another update on where things stand in relation to the addition and building improvements.

Phase 1 of the project was the site work – moving of the ball diamond, removal of the existing track, as well as relocating and enlarging the playground area.  Our plan was to get that work done in the summer of 2011 in preparation for the building addition.  This work was completed as scheduled in 2011, although they will finish the seeding work sometime this spring.  Also, the PTO was able to provide some new equipment for the larger playground, which was installed over Christmas break.  With the mild winter, the kids have been able to really enjoy the new and expanded playground area, and we are very happy to see that.  Thank you very much to all the volunteers in the PTO for your time and effort in all that you do to help at Limestone Walters!!!

If you haven’t noticed yet, Phase 2 of the project has just begun.  The 2 classroom addition will be constructed and operational, barring any unforeseen circumstances, by the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year.  Once this is completed, the library will occupy one of the classroom spaces, giving us a larger library area.  In addition, we will move the wall in the existing cafeteria/library area, making the current cafeteria larger.  The new wall will be a moveable partition type wall, which will allow for a small storage room or classroom.  It will also give us the flexibility to open up the wall to make one large room for larger functions.  The current science room will be moved to the 2nd new classroom so our junior high students will now have all their classes in the same area.  The current science room will then be used as a “flex” classroom – i.e. art, health, etc..

Phase 3 of the project is scheduled to be added and improved parking.  Our ultimate goal is to improve the parking on the entire west side of the building, and install a new all-weather track surface in conjunction with this.  At this point we are in somewhat of a holding pattern as far as design and construction are concerned.  The big questions confronting us are the status of our state funding.  The State has already cut, or is delaying many of our payments.   We also see other cuts on the horizon.  Once we have a clearer vision of what the upcoming budget(s) might look like, we will then move forward with the next phase of the improvement project in some capacity.  One thing the Board considers to be critical in this endeavor – we do not want to issue any bonds, or give cause for taxes to increase because of these projects, and we are holding to that objective.  We want to make sure the kids in our district have the opportunity to have the best education possible, but we need to be cognizant that all taxpayers in the district need to be considered as well.

As possibly an added “bonus” at our next board meeting we will be discussing our new technology lease program, as well as the possible upgrades to our computer system – i.e. hardware, cabling, internet service, firewalls, etc..  While we have been able to provide ample, and up to date computers and software for the students, our integral hardware has not been updated in a while.  So we will be talking about performing some upgrades to our entire system,  which might also be a little easier to accomplish in conjunction with the construction project going on this summer.  Stay tuned for further details!!

One word of caution – obviously the construction has started.  We want to take advantage of this good weather, to insure that the project will be complete by the beginning of the next school year.  The project will be fenced off as much as possible, but we would just ask that everyone exercise caution when near the construction site and any of the construction equipment. 

Also, we still have a lot of decisions to be made as far as the interior completion of this project – i.e. colors, flooring, furniture, equipment, etc..  We would certainly welcome any input from families and staff in that regard.  We want to make the addition is as useful as possible for years to come.  So if you have any ideas, please share them with us.

Again, our thoughts are that these projects will help make your students’ tenure at Limestone Walters a more enjoyable and comfortable experience, and provide more learning opportunities for them.   I have been told the last time the building was improved for educational reasons was 1975.  We hope that this project will be of great benefit for the families in the district for years to come.  Plus, this should help keep our school going strong as we face the potential of more land and housing development in the area.  I would also like to take this opportunity to pass along a thank you to our board members who served as our building committee, Ken Herz and Barry Campen, as well as Mr. Dotson.  They have put a lot of time in this project and we appreciate their help. 

Thank you again for your continued support of Limestone Walters!  On behalf of the entire Board of Education, we hope everyone has a wonder Spring Break and Easter!!

John Floyd, Limestone Walters Board of Education

At the February 21st Board of Education meeting, the Board approved the construction of the two classroom addition. Two classrooms will be constructed on the east end of the building, along with a remodel of the current cafeteria. The new classrooms will house our library and a new science lab. The cafeteria will be expanded and there will be a new room that will allow for some additional instruction in a small setting. A power point presentation that outlines the addition will be on the Limestone Walters website soon. It is expected that construction will begin in mid-March, weather permitting. All of this construction is being financed with funds on hand. No bonds are being issued for this project. The last time Limestone Walters added on to the building for the betterment of students was in 1975. That year the current kindergarten, science/art, and music rooms were added.

Tim Dotson, Superintendent