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

  • Pudu Robotics Launches AI-Powered, Large-Scale Floor Sweeper

    Pudu Robotics recently launched the newest member of its MT1 series of robotic floor sweepers, the PUDU MT1 Max, according to a news release. The AI-powered, 3D perception robotic sweeper was designed for use in large, complex cleaning environments both indoors and semi-outdoors, like parking garages and semi-open building atriums.

  • North Dakota State University Completes Music School Renovation

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently announced that construction on the Challey School of Music has finished, according to a news release. The university partnered with Foss Architecture & Interiors for design and Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and construction began in July 2024.

  • Anderson Brulé Architects Rebrands as ABA Studios

    Anderson Brulé Architects, based in San Jose, Calif., recently announced that it is celebrating 40 years of service by rebranding under a new name, according to a news release. The architectural, interior design, and planning firm will now be known as ABA Studios to refresh its identity underneath a new generation of leadership.

  • Elevating Campus Maintenance: How Power Wash Drones are Transforming Educational Facilities

    As today’s campuses grow larger and more architecturally complex, keeping exteriors clean, safe, and inviting has never been tougher. Facilities leaders are under constant pressure to stretch budgets, meet safety standards, and support sustainability goals—all while tackling the stubborn challenge of exterior cleaning.

Digital Edition