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St. Mary's new facility taking shape: Completion of Catholic school building on schedule for July, 2009 opening
By Jason E. Silvers
The Fort Scott Tribune
Construction of a new St. Mary's Catholic School building is moving along as planned, school officials said Tuesday.
"As far as we know, it's on schedule," St. Mary's Principal Krista Gorman said. "It's good that we've got it (new school)."
A new school building is currently being built on a plot of land at 702 S. Eddy St., where the former St. Mary's Catholic School, built in 1923, once stood before it was demolished in June due to extensive water and termite damage over the years. About 55 preschool through 5th grade students and six teachers have been working through the current school year in four large mobile units near the construction site of the new building, expected to be complete in July 2009.
Gorman said construction projects have been progressing nicely, and crews have not encountered any major problems since beginning work on the new building this summer. Much of the new building's exterior, which is primarily made up of brick and stone, is complete, and workers are continuing to install sheet rock this week, Gorman said.
"Everything's been super smooth," she said. "I've been amazed."
While teachers, students and staff are anxious for the completion of the new school building, everyone has been working well together in a new educational environment this year, according to Gorman.
"It's been going really well," she said. "Better than expected. We're all anxious."
Gorman said all teachers and students have toured portions of the incomplete new building twice this school year to watch the construction progress, and have caught glimpses of where classrooms, offices and other important rooms will be located in the new building.
The mobile units are divided up to accommodate all teachers and students who walk from unit to unit each day via covered walkways that join all of the units together. The units, which staff and students have become used to the last few months, also present some benefits, Gorman said.
"It's like having a hallway in a regular school," she said. "They (walkways) join all the units. All the units also have covered entrances that can be used during bad weather. And they're (units) easy to heat and cool because they're not huge."
School personnel and students also regularly use the Kennedy Memorial Gymnasium, which is located on school property, for various school activities and events, including physical education class, recess and lunch. The gym, which will adjoin the new building on its west side, will continue to be used on a regular basis after the completion of the new school. Both the gym and the new school building will be also be available for use by the church parish, Gorman said.
The new school facility will also house church offices and an Adoration Chapel. Students will continue to attend regular mass services at the Mary Queen of Angels Church, 716 S. Eddy St., located just south of the new school.