When Kevin Kraus took over as Logan View's elementary principal this year, he planned to make sure to touch base with each classroom on a daily basis.
That, though, was a difficult task since elementary students in the district are spread out among four different buildings.
"I was probably a little bit naive in thinking I could get to everybody every day," Kraus said. "It takes a concentrated effort to get into every classroom on a daily basis. I try to do that, but some days are more successful than others."
Kraus will have a much easier time reaching that goal in the fall when Logan View's new elementary school opens, allowing students in kindergarten through sixth grade to be at one location.
Currently, kindergarten and first-grade students are in two buildings, while students in grades 2-4 attend school in Hooper. Those in grades 5-6 are at the Logan View site.
People are also reading…
That, Kraus said, creates a number of logistical problems, as well as safety concerns.
"We've got teachers and even students riding back and forth between the buildings, sometimes numerous times a day," Kraus said. "As weather gets trickier, that becomes a safety issue."
Voters approved using nearly $7 million in bonds in 2010 for the construction of the new elementary building.
Groundwork at the site, which will be located at Logan View, began last March, and Kraus said construction is on schedule to be completed by mid-to-late April.
That will allow teachers and staff to move in over the summer before students return in August.
"I think the excitement is on several levels," Kraus said. "Teachers are excited about the possibility of teaching in it and having kids in the building. The community is excited as well. ... There's a lot of excitement all the way around."
The new elementary will feature 14 classrooms - two for each grade level - as well as two "catch-all" classrooms that could be utilized for reading or other programs.
There also will be a media center and the school will have its own cafeteria and lunchroom.
An activities facility with a smaller gymnasium than the one in the junior-senior high also is included, as well as new wrestling and weight rooms. The gym also will have a stage.
"It'll impact things K-12 where we can do different things with tournaments or programs," Kraus said.
Having everyone under one roof will provide teachers the opportunity to collaborate with each other and meet on a consistent basis to plan, Kraus said.
There also are many other advantages to the new building, he said.
"The centralizing of all of our resources just makes things so much more efficient," Kraus said. "Scheduling can be done to impact instruction instead of what fits. We'll be scheduling to meet the needs of students instead of meeting the scheduling needs of staff."
A new building won't be the only change greeting students when they return to school in the fall.
Earlier this month, the district's school board chose Jeremy Klein to take over as superintendent beginning July 1. Klein is replacing Steve Wilson, who will be retiring.
