Garden City Public Schools Prepare for Opening Day

The middle and high schools have been bustling with activity this summer as the next phase of the 2009 School Investment Bond was implemented.

As the district gears up for the start of the 2011-2012 school year, construction projects are wrapping up and classrooms are being readied to welcome the students on Opening Day, Tuesday, Sept. 6.

This summer’s bond projects included a new bus loop at the high school, a new office module at the bus garage and the start of construction on the middle school gymnasium addition.

The new vehicle entry, driveway and parking area at the high school will provide a safer environment for students by allowing buses to park off-street while loading and unloading passengers. To preserve the building’s greenery, a number of trees were salvaged and transplanted nearby.

At the bus garage, a new modular building replaced the old, leaky trailer, providing a healthier working environment for the support team that oversees the daily transportation of 3,700 students to district and private schools.

The exterior of the middle school saw the most dramatic changes this summer as footings and the foundation were laid and the new gymnasium addition began to rise on the footprint. Anticipated completion date for the gym is expected in the summer of 2012.

The state has approved plans for the programmatic-driven addition at Homestead (part of the School Investment Bond) with construction there slated to begin soon.

Additionally, the district’s phone system has been recently updated, enabling clearer voice communications with the public and between buildings.

To keep informed as we begin the new school year, visit the district’s website regularly (also featuring a new design for ’11-’12) for the latest news, weather alerts and announcements. If you prefer to receive up-to-the-minute tweets, follow us on Twitter.