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Revamped school greets NK Rangers |
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Monday, 08 September 2008 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
NEW KNOXVILLE — School zone lights are flashing, students are rushing to class and the homework has started, everywhere except in New Knoxville.
After construction work is squared away and finished up, the Rangers will fill the hallways again after an extended summer and three weeks after all other local districts have started. School started for New Knoxville today.
“We had open house for grades one through six last night (Thursday), so kids could come in and look at the classrooms and talk to the teachers,” Superintendent Kim Waterman said.
Students were able to extend their summer because of the construction, but not without consequences.
The other local schools will start their summer on schedule. However New Knoxville will not have its last day of school until June 5.
Students will be affected by holiday changes as well. The students will enjoy the same Christmas break, however breaks for Presidents day and Thanksgiving will be shorter.
“We used to take a day off in October, but we will be going on that day for example,” Waterman said.
The schedule changes were discussed by school administration and staff. Ultimately the makeshift scheduled was approved.
“We proposed different scenarios to the staff and had them vote on it, either for going longer in June or holidays,” Waterman said. “We tried to give options to the teachers at that time, we didn’t want to go to far into June.”
While school has started late, the athletes of New Knoxville started their fall sports on time. Despite not being in session, fans continue to pack the gyms and athletic fields to cheer on the Rangers.
“It hasn’t affected the sports crowd at all, they have been in full swing, being able to practice in gyms, “ Waterman said. “ Once we get in the routine of things again, we will see an increase in student crowds, but it hasn’t affected it greatly.”
Overall the renovations seem to be going over well, Waterman said.
“When the parents came in they said it has really come together, and they are seeing the changes, especially from last year,” Waterman said. “Some of the older kids were in today (Friday) and said things have changed so much.”
Students saw first-hand all the changes today. Waterman said a big change students are noticing and liking is the cafeteria.
Other major renovations that are completed include the kitchen and the parking lot.
“The media center is the only location that won’t be totally operational,” Waterman said. “Normally the students are getting use to routine, and classroom procedures, and aren’t necessarily checking out books.”
The media center will still act partially as an office until all of the office furniture arrives.
“We will dwindle it down to just a small area so they can focus on taking plastic off the bookcases, doing a good clean, so we can open the media center up to the kids as soon as we can,’ Waterman said.
Other than a few minor cleaning activities, the new school will be ready to be shown off and be filled with kids again.
“For the most part we have all the areas ready that need to be, but it’s not going to be perfect,” Waterman said. “ For the most part we are ready to go.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 12 September 2008 )
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