The building opened January 9th for the new semester. Now, 850 students in 7th to 12th grade are under the same roof.

 

“Some of the students commented that they were surprised the first day back, the teachers were ready to teach. So they hit the ground running. Everything’s going very well,” said Curt Vasas, Senior High School Principal.

 

Superintendent Ed Bowser said the transition has been a smooth one.

 

“I give a lot of credit to my entire staff: all the custodians, the cafeteria workers, teachers and so forth, because they did a tremendous job,” Bowser said.

 

The $50 million facility features high-tech classrooms, small group instruction areas and a bigger food-court style cafeteria. 

 

Bowser said they’re still $800,000 under budget. They hope to use some of that money to create a new multi-purpose athletic field.

 

For now, there are still some things left to do like putting up signs, working out technical difficulties and making small repairs. 

 

As for the old middle and high schools, demolition will start this weekend at the high school building. A student parking lot will take its place. The middle school will go to auction soon.

 

Junior High Principal Ed Alexander said it’s nice to be closer to the high school because of the collaboration between teachers and the extra resources available.

 

“We were on our own little island in the middle of the field. So it’s nice to be a part of everything. We’re like the hub of Sidman right now,” Alexander said.

 

School officials are planning an open house in the late spring or early summer to show off the new facility to anyone in the community who wants to check it out.