Aerin Johnson
Staff Writer
Webster Groves High School’s new northern wing will open in the fall of 2012.
Since the last update, construction workers are finishing the roof and are now starting to see the classroom layout. Construction workers are also working on dry walling and the electric and mechanic services.
“Right now, it’s an ongoing process,” said Rob Strube, construction project manager.
There will probably still be a little work to do on the building when school starts next year. “Little finishing touches, I’m sure,” said principal Jon Clark.
The new addition will have more than 28 classrooms for science, social studies, visual arts and musicas well as breakout and practice rooms.
The new wing will also get a solar panel system to generate power and a rooftop green classroom, according to Diane Moore, chief financial officer for the district.
On the ground floor will be industrial technology classrooms. It is possible a robotics class will be there in the future, according to Clark. The wing is supposed to have a sort of college feel to it, he said.
The school hopes to move into the wing one week before Aug. 1 because it’s close to when students register for classes.
The parking problem with construction workers from earlier this year has stopped. The workers are parking on Lockwood Avenue, and most of them carpool to the construction site. Next year there will be more than 60 additional parking spaces.
Teachers have had to move out of their classrooms and teach in other peoples’ rooms during the construction. Some teachers, like Art teacher Debbie Geneovese, have moved to faculty lounges. Some teachers are even moving from classroom to classroom.
“I’m sure when it’s finished, it will be a tribute to the high school,” said Geneovese about the addition.
The construction has been made possible by Proposition W, which according to the district’s website, is a $36 million zero-tax-rate-increase bond issue to repair and renovate the high school.
