Construction has begun at Southside Elementary School and is scheduled to begin on May 6 at Herrman Elementary School. This is an exciting time for the district and the community as many months of planning and design is coming to fruition as the construction phase of the facility expansion project is now underway. Bids for both projects came in under budget, and we are currently on track to be on time and on budget with excellent quality facilities for our students, staff, and community well into the future.
There will be many ways for the community to stay current on the projects. Our Sparta Area School District Facebook page is posting regular updates with photos on both projects so that everyone can see the latest progress on the construction. Our website also has a Facilities Expansion Project page where building plans, interior and exterior renderings, and project photos are posted. At a few key junctures in the project, we will host opportunities for people to come out and walk through the unfinished spaces to get a feel for what they will be like when they are finished.
The next milestones we will celebrating on both the Southside and Herrman Elementary projects are the groundbreaking ceremonies. A groundbreaking will be hosted at Southside at 1:30 pm on Friday, May 10 and at Herrman Elementary on Friday, May 17 at 2:30 pm. All are welcome to attend these informal events. We will have shovels and hardhats available for individuals or groups who would like to have a photo taken at these events.
While we have a lot of hard work ahead of us to see these projects through to their completion, it is important to pause at these milestone moments to reflect on all of the work that has been done and to acknowledge the efforts of the people that are making the facility expansion project possible. Many thanks to our Community Task Force, our staff, our Board of Education, and our project team, whose engagement and expertise have ensured that this project will be one that reflects the needs and values of our Sparta families. Most importantly, thank you to the community for supporting this critical project. Our schools are an integral part of the community and serve to shape the future, a future for Sparta with a vibrant and thriving outlook. I look forward to providing more in-depth updates to all as the projects get off of the ground (literally) and take shape.
— Dr. Amy Van Deuren, Superintendent