News

Westhope School moves forward

By Scott Wagar

04/14/2015

The construction and renovation work on Westhope’s School is in full swing with its work on schedule.

The project started a little later than the original plan, which was to begin right after graduation last spring; however, due to some delays with bids and costs, the project didn’t start until the end of October.

The majority of the work is in the northeast corner of the school where a new lunch room, commons and music area is being placed in the area of the school where the music room was originally constructed in the structure. 

“The music room was 2,300 square feet,” said John Gruenburg, superintendent of the Westhope School District. “We are moving our lunch room into that space and making a music area and office there, too.”

As work is taking place in that section of the school, the music students are having class in the old gymnasium of the school. 

The school’s administrative offices will be moved from the second floor to the first floor, but due to the cost of the entire project, the size of the main office had to be downsized and located where the school’s lunchroom is presently located in the southeast corner of the school. 

The special education resource room will take the place of the kitchen space.

As the renovations are taking place, new construction is also going on at the school.

On the west side of the school, a new kitchen addition is being constructed, while a new addition is also being constructed on the east side which will hold the Vo. Ag classroom and the Title I/Junior High math classroom.

This summer, a new boiler will be installed in the school which will be located on the west side of the building.

Some items in the project that were approved had to come off the list or reduced in size.

“We had to concede on the library, which was to join with the Westhope Public Library,” Gruenburg said. “In the school, we have a library on the first and second floors, but we will combine those two libraries and place them in one room on the second floor.

“And, the fitness center had to be taken out of the project completely,” Gruenburg said. “We just didn’t have the funding for it.”  

As for the project, Gruenburg stated that he is pleased with how it is coming along.

 “It is very exciting to see the progress coming along so fast with the demolition of the north end and the new classrooms and kitchen space for the additions,” Gruenberg said. “The project team has been doing a wonderful job of accommodating the students and staff around the work schedule, doing large demo and construction work when we are on longer breaks such as our spring break or Easter vacation.

“Getting into the new spaces will be challenging during the summer as the improvements in areas where students and staff frequently use will be ongoing the entire summer,” Gruenberg added. “It will be a welcome addition and change for the school, its patrons and the Westhope community to see three years of planning, meetings and hard work come to a close.”

The main contractor for Westhope School District’s project is Construction Engineers from Grand Forks, while the architect firm, ICON, also comes from Grand Forks.