Southridge under construction but ready for school

Construction front of school — Construction in the front of the school where the main office and english classrooms were located

Many parents and students alike are wondering what is going to happen the first day of school at Southridge High School. The missing classrooms, front office, and carpet in the locker area didn’t go unnoticed Wednesday night during student registration.

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What's going on up above and underfoot is of no concern to the Freshmen students at orientation.

“The construction workers were still in the area finishing up some work and the carpet in the locker area had to go to prevent a fire while the workers were welding overhead,” explained Southridge Principal Mike Eineman. “Although things were still a mess the other night for registration, people would be surprised to see it today. I was. The custodians have done a fantastic job.”

The custodians and construction workers have been cleaning up the main student areas since Wednesday. They have also blocked off any unsafe areas, but for the time being the floors in the locker area will remain bare.

Students should expect other changes as well; the office and english classrooms have been moved temporarily while they complete the construction on the front of the school. The air conditioning is operating and most of the teachers will have their own rooms.

While the students are in school construction indoors has stopped. The construction crews are focusing on completing the exterior additions, but construction inside the school will resume sometime near the end of the first grading period. During this phase the students will transition to nine temporary classrooms in the newly completed gym.

“We hope that some time between Christmas Break and Spring Break the front part of the school will be completed.” Eineman said.

temp classrooms — The new gym addition will become temporary classrooms while construction is completed in the main school area.

With this year’s football season fast approaching–this Friday is the first scrimmage game–parking and traffic flow are a concern. For now fans are being asked to park in the front parking lot adjacent to the highway in front of the high school and at the elementary school lot.

“The parking issue is something we are still working on.” Eineman said.

According to Eineman the remodel is moving along smoothly but there have been moments of frustration “I was pretty upset about a week and a half ago when I saw all the mess around here, but things are shaping up around the school now as the school year is here.”