Lucky Indian Creek Students Return to School
By Sue Loudon
Three hundred grade school students who live in the Center School District will be returning to class at Indian Creek School, Monday, August 23. They are lucky because they have a brand new school that is state of the art. The new school building, at 9801 Grand, is at the same location as the former one. The older school building was torn down this summer, providing a full view of the new one erected built behind it during the 2020-21 school year. The public, who overwhelmingly supported a $48 million bond issue for district improvements, was invited to tour both buildings earlier this spring. Students and family toured the new building on Thursday, August 19.
“We are over the moon for the experience our students will have,” gushes Dr. Angela Price, principal at Indian Creek. “We are fully staffed and the teachers are excited to start this school year. We were so overcrowded in the old building.”
“It was bittersweet for me to see the old school go,” says Price, who has been a part of Indian Creek Elementary for the past 30 years. She says some artifacts from the old building will be placed in the courtyard.
The 60,000 square foot, two-level building replaces the 38,000 square foot one-level one. The trendy exterior with alternating colored tiles is the district’s first new school in the district in 50 years.
The building contains larger classrooms. The concept of moveable walls is used throughout the building as well as moveable seating so teachers can change group sizes easily and collaborate with other classrooms.
The school opens up to the library and cafeteria. Mobile tables and seating are placed throughout which can easily be moved for large gatherings. A mural in the cafeteria reads Stronger, while one in the library reads Together. In the library there are outlets on the floor, so students can have their computers. There are also five television screens on the walls that will be used for instruction. “It will be a work space but also a space to have library lessons,” says Price. .A gym, art room and music room as well as office space round out the first floor.
Upstairs a Makerspace for creative technology overlooks the library below, while an adjacent room, the outdoor classroom, opens up to fresh weather and is filled with garden planters. Students will be able to plant seeds and see them grow. This area will also be used for science experiments.
A secure entry on the first floor provides a separate entry into the Center School District’s Board of Education meeting room. The area can be enclosed for a private small meeting or expanded into the library for a crowd.
The parking lot, playground and outdoor garden are still under construction, all should be completed by October.
The school was designed by Hollis + Miller Architects. The local construction company is Newkirk Novak.
Other Center improvements
Indian Creek is not the only change in the district. Other improvements are new sidewalks for Red Bridge Elementary has a new sidewalk at the front entrance. Center Alternative has a new secured entrance. Center High School has all new flooring, new paint and remodeled restrooms. Center Middle School has a remodeled gym and a new sound and lighting system plus the stage has been renovated. Boone /Early Childhood Learning Center has new flooring thoughout the building as well as new playground equipment and fencing. There has been a general clean, paint and new flooring where needed in all the Center schools.
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