Last modified: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 4:43 PM CDT

New science building nearing completion at Kirkwood High

By Todd Smith

A new science building at Kirkwood High School has a price tag of $8.767 million, and some classrooms will be completed by the end of this month.

Ginger Fletcher, director of community affairs for the Kirkwood School District, said the entire building including the rest of the classrooms, offices, corridors and restrooms, will be completed by June 15 and will be ready for students in the fall.

"There are approximately 60 to 70 workers on the site each day to complete the project," she said.

The construction is part of a $28 million bond issue that was approved by school district voters as part of Proposition I in April 2005.

Construction of the new science building began in May 2006. The building is on the northeast corner of the high school. Fletcher said the two-story structure will consist of 51,000 square feet and is the largest addition to the high school to date.

"The building features 15 combined 1,500-square-foot science classrooms and laboratories; five each for chemistry, biology and physics," Fletcher said.

She said the building will have state-of-the-art equipment. The district purchased 430 tablet personal computers that are connected to the teacher's computer, and students' work can be projected onto a screen.

"The teacher and class can work together on science experiments," Fletcher said.

Equipping the building costs an extra $1.6 million, which is being raised by the Kirkwood School District Foundation.

"The old science building was constructed in 1957, and the new science building will allow for the district to have a building that reflects current research and best practices in science education," Fletcher said. "The building will also include prep rooms for laboratory experiments and storage facilities."

The current science classrooms in the northwest building will be renovated to house a world language department by January 2008.

Construction also is under way on a new gymnasium and physical education facility that will cost $5.32 million, Fletcher said.

The gym is scheduled to open in January 2008.

Fletcher said the district is in the final review with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District to move the project forward.

"They are reviewing the engineer's design and will let us know if we have any changes to make," she said.

Proposition I is a two-part proposal that provides funds for immediate infrastructure repairs and improvements throughout the district, as well as funds to complete the district's master facilities plan.

You can contact Todd Smith at tosmith@yourjournal.com.