Kan. District Debuts New Elementary School

The Spring Hill School District in Spring Hill, Kan., is set to open its newest elementary school in time for the coming school year. Dayton Creek Elementary School is projected to welcome an inaugural group of 200 students. District officials say that Spring Hill is one of the most rapidly expanding districts in the state, and the goal of the new facility is to keep up with the growing student population.

“All of our elementary buildings have a maximum capacity of around 500 students,” said Christopher Villarreal, director of communications and education engagement for USD 230. “None of them are quite to that number yet. We are trying to stay ahead of the growth curve, so that way, none of our buildings get over capacity and we can maintain a good student-to-teacher ratio in all of our buildings.”

Voters passed a bond issue in 2018 to fund the new school’s construction. The $21.5-million facility will serve students K–5 and feed into two middle schools; a third middle school is projected to open for the 2023–24 school year.

Darcy Sly, a former elementary school teacher of the year in the district, will serve as the new school’s principal. “Last year, our district added STEM to the curriculum,” she said. “Now we have a STEM class that all of our students—kindergarten through fifth grade—go to once a week. It’s a wonderful offering for them,” she said.

The new facility features a computer lab and flexible seating options for active learning opportunities. A dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on July 29, and new students and their families are welcome to attend a “Back to School” night on Monday, Aug. 16.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Case Study Highlights Texas District’s Campus Security Upgrades

    The Taft Independent School District near Corpus Christi, Texas, recently partnered with Intech Southwest Services to revamp its campus security technology system, according to a news release. Intech has released a case study on its website detailing the process that advanced the district’s technology by more than 20 years in less than three weeks.

  • Kimball Showroom Earns WELL Certified Platinum Distinction

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced that its showroom in New York City has achieved WELL Certification at the Platinum level as dictated by the International WELL Building Institute, according to a news release. The certification demonstrates a continuing commitment to creating environments that promote health, well-being, and productivity.

  • Fellowes Launches New 3D Modular, Product Configurators

    Contract interiors and architectural solutions provider Fellowes recently announced the launch of new 3D modular and product configurators for several of its product lines, according to a news release. The new products offer SIF file integration and pricing for the Volo, Markerboards, Sena, and Rising product lines in connection with 3D Cloud, which provides 3D product visualization and 3D digital asset management.

  • Colorado State University Global, SCTE Launch Online Certificate Program

    Colorado State University Global (CSU Global), based in Denver, Colo., recently announced a partnership with CableLabs subsidiary the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) to launch an online certificate training program for broadband professionals, according to a news release.