(BRONSON, IA) - One Siouxland school district is on the move. Students in the Lawton-Bronson Community School District are just weeks away from moving in to their new elementary building, about 18 months after crews broke ground.
The old Bronson Elementary served students for 92 years, and district staff say this roughly nine million dollar gem is nearly ready to serve for decades to come. Principal Chad Shook was more than happy to show off the new commons Wednesday, next to the new kitchen with a dishwasher. At the current building, kitchen staff wash nearly 300 trays by hand, every day.
The building is also more secure than Bronson's current space. "It's kind of nice, the school was designed with security in mind, so that all visitors to the building have to come through the office," Shook explained. Security is just one example of how thoughtfully the school was designed. Music, band, and physical education classes are all contained on the east end of the building, to keep noise away from classrooms. The gym includes a retractable stage so it can double as an auditorium. Natural light fills nearly every hallway, entrance, and classroom. A new computer lab has more outlets than most of the old school. "It's all around the outside so the instructor can see students computers all the time," said Shook. Next door the new library comes complete with a cozy tree built in the wall, and a picket fence for readers. Each classroom will have a LCD TV which can also connect with teachers' computers. Wireless Internet covers much of the building, and ample storage space gives teachers room to breathe.
If that list doesn't impress you, geothermal heating means major energy savings. Mid-American Energy estimates enough savings to offset the cost of the system in only 10 years.
"It reflects upon the beliefs of our community, the values of our community," said Shook, thanking the community for building intelligently for the long haul.
Contractors should finish up their work in the next couple of weeks, and Shook says the school will open to students by mid-November.
Reported by Jeremy Maskel. You can reach Jeremy at jmaskel@kmeg.com.
