Bashaw Elementary improvements reach new stage

Bashaw Elementary School soon will be operating on a grander stage, literally.

After many of the new construction and renovations scheduled to be completed in December, a wall of the cafeteria will be knocked out during Thanksgiving break to accommodate the construction of a larger stage. It also will lead to a much-larger overall space so activity can be held while students are using the cafeteria for meals.

"A larger stage means larger school-wide events," said Principal Josh Bennett. "The capacity is now 266, and it will increase by 133 once it's finished. That is great because it will allow for more programs in the cafeteria, and we'll be able to do things during the day in the cafeteria without distracting the students. It will be a much more flexible environment."

Bennett said the $14.7 million upgrade is the first since the school opened in 1985. "This update is modernizing the school and allowing it to have the capabilities any other school would have.. It was so old and dated." 

Besides expanding the cafeteria space and getting rid of nine portables with the construction of a new building, the school is getting a new roof and new heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. All construction is scheduled to be complete in early to mid-2017.

Since last June when construction began, significant progress has been made. The nine portables that have been in use for more than 16 years are mostly gone and the new, eight-classroom building has taken their place.

"Come November, nobody will be in portables," Bennett said. "The windows and doors are going in this week (on the new building), and overall, this new building will be much safer for the students. In terms of weather, the building is just going to be more secure." 

Additionally, in each of the buildings, the new one and the two older buildings that have been renovated, central labs have been built.

 "This will be sort of a teacher planning room in the center of each building," Bennett said. "With this, we hope to create a more collaborative and fluid learning process for the students. Also, the classrooms will be much closer together, in comparison to the separation they had in the portable classrooms." 

Carolyn Thompson, a first-grade teacher at Bashaw since the school opened, was excited about the new facilities. The updated classrooms will have more technological capabilities and will have a better feel with brighter colors.

"I'm really excited for the new furniture the board has been looking at," Thompson said. "They've been looking at standing desks, sitting desks and swivel chairs for the students. The technology here is really old, so the new updates will be awesome."