Wyoming — About 600 seventh- and eighth-graders walked into the new two-story addition of Wyoming Junior High School Tuesday and checked out their brand new digs.
Their first morning back to school began with a glimpse of the open cafeteria and learning space on the main level, high ceilings and large windows providing a view of an exterior wall with the word “Wolves” on it. The wide staircase led eighth-graders up to their second-floor classrooms.
“I’m really excited to meet new friends and make good decisions,” said seventh-grader Diana Rivera. “It’s a clean new school with organized stuff. It’s really nice! More than I expected.”
“It’s a lot bigger! It’s got an upstairs I can finally go in,” added eighth-grader Isaiah Lowe.
The $36 million project, designed by GMB Architecture+Engineering with construction by The Christman Company, was funded mostly by the $24.9 million bond passed in May 2022. About $11 million in renovations, including $3 million to the existing auditorium, were planned earlier as part of the $79.5 million bond issue passed in 2017.
Renovations are still continuing on part of the original structure. Auditorium work is slated for completion in January or February, while an old gym will be transformed into a new band and choir room to be completed in October.
“This was our oldest building in the district by far, so to be able to have these kids finally in a new facility, I think just changed the day for them,” said Matt Lewis, assistant superintendent for finance and administrative services. “We are excited to see them come in and be welcomed into spaces like this.”
In anticipation of her 22nd year teaching, eighth-grade English teacher Katie Sluiter finished decorating her classroom Monday afternoon, hanging up pictures, quotes, flags and stocking bookshelves. She has spent a total of 11 years at the junior high and was delighted by the new space.
“I love it,” she said. “I was getting really down about summer ending, as one does, and then I walked into the building and I was like, ‘This just feels like so many possibilities.’ How can you not be excited?”
Air conditioning and natural light will help students stay more focused, she said, and tables and chairs with wheels allow for configurations ideal for group work. Breakout areas also allow for small group activities.
The Junior High addition was a major project within a $100 million investment into improvements at all district facilities over the past eight years, including the new Wyoming High School building, which opened in 2020.
About $10 million in work at the fifth- and sixth-grade Wyoming Intermediate School will round out the bond work. A new academic wing at the school welcomed students for the first day and renovations to the kitchen, office and cafeteria will soon begin.
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