BV addition is ready for the first day of school
Board cuts ribbon for new elementary/junior high addition in Manlius
MANLIUS — Smelling of fresh paint and new carpet, the new addition at Bureau Valley High School is ready for the upcoming school year.
Members of the Bureau Valley School Board gathered Friday afternoon for a ribbon-cutting ceremony just as crews were putting the final touches on their last projects in preparation for the weekend public tours.
Friday’s short ceremony drew a small crowd at the entrance of the new junior high/elementary school, which will be home to third grades through fifth grades from the old Buda school and sixth grades through eighth grades from both Buda and Walnut junior high schools.
Superintendent Jason Stabler welcomed those in attendance and said the project has come together just in time.
“Hopefully, he can get the construction trucks out of here and the school buses in. That’s the key. That’s the plan,” he said.
Stabler introduced Don King, former school board president, who led the board through the building referendum, approved by voters in March 2018, which made this project possible.
King came prepared with a long list of individuals and groups who helped pull together a successful building plan.
“To have a project of this magnitude in small, rural America, it takes a lot of people. There were so many good people who were a part of it, supportive, and did a lot of hard work and put a lot of equity into it,” he said. “The proudest day I think I’m going to see is the day you open the door and the students come in.”
His expressed gratitude to the former board of education, the current board of education, taxpayers, voters, teachers, staff, administration, students, the Bureau Valley Teachers Association, the referendum committee, the district’s architect, Midwest Construction Professionals (MCP) and the Bureau Valley family — “the people who show up to everything. The ones who, if you stick them, they bleed blue,” King said.
Current board president Justin Yepsen also recognized all the people behind the scenes who helped turn the hard work of a referendum into reality. On behalf of the board, he expressed appreciation for the MCP group, which eased difficult decisions during the construction phase.
“To all the people who were a part of the group building it, I give one heck of an attitude. … It was a good working environment,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the first day of school when the kids get to see it.”
The first day of school at Bureau Valley is Monday, Aug. 19.
Former Bureau Valley School Board President Don King was invited back for the ribbon cutting ceremony Friday afternoon. King named off a list of groups and individuals he wanted to thank for helping making the project a success.
Bureau Valley teachers were busy last week setting up and decorating their new classrooms at the addition in time for public tours, which were given Saturday.
On hand for the grand-opening ceremony were Bureau Valley High School Principal Duane Price (from left), Superintendent Jason Stabler, junior high/elementary school Principal Julie Platz, board member Chris Maynard, board president Justin Yepsen, former board president Don King, Walnut and Wyanet elementary schools Principal Kristie Cady, and board members Melissa Dye and Tiffany Johnson.
Bureau Valley School Board members and administration pose for a ribbon cutting photo with representatives from the district's architect and construction crew hired for the buildingproject. Pictured (left to right) Julie Platz, Bureau Valley junior high/principal; Beth Schupp, project manager of Midwest Construction Professionals; Jason Stabler, Bureau Valley superintendent; Andrew Macklin of Larson & Darby Group, the district's architect; Ryan Lane of Midwest Construction Professionals; Justin Yepsen, school board president; Don King, former school board president; Chris Maynard, school board member; Duane Price, Bureau Valley High School Principal; Kristie Cady, Bureau Valley Walnut Principal; Melissa Dye, school board secretary and Tiffany Johnson, school board member.
Bureau Valley School Board President Justin Yepsen got the honor to cut the grand opening ribbon for the new addition Friday afternoon.
Bureau Valley administrators Laurie Gustafson (left) and Jackie Hasbrook get acquainted with their new desks at the Bureau Valley elementary/junior high addition.
Bureau Valley Junior High/Elementary Principal Julie Platz (left) and school board member Tiffany Johnson (right) take a look at the new art room in the addition during a tour on Friday.
Bureau Valley's new playground is up and ready for recess at the new addition in Manlius. A crew of volunteers gathered mid-July to help build the new equipment.