Construction Progress on Track with More to Come
By Melcher-Dallas Journalism Students
Thu, November 30, 2023
Melcher-Dallas, IA – Anticipation grows in the Melcher-Dallas school district as construction at the high school nears an end, bringing students long awaited opportunities beginning at the end of the year.
Melcher-Dallas superintendent Scott Bridges was hopeful the project would be completed by June 2024. He said the project was “technically really ahead of schedule, but on schedule.” This was encouraging for faculty, students, and the community as they anticipated getting back to normal.
The transition of not having a home gym was challenging and inconvenient for sporting events, physical education classes, concerts, and graduation ceremonies.
Students expressed their excitement for the coming additions. Junior Izzy Carter and freshman Kaden Schrader were excited about the opportunity to use the gym for athletic events. Freshman Hailee Carver said she was looking forward to “not having to go outside for PE.”
The gym is larger than the previous one, with higher ceilings and more seating. A curtain can divide the court to have two teams practicing at the same time. “It will be a more comfortable place to have games,” Bridges said.
New classrooms and spaces for students were included in the construction and included a weight room, art room, agriculture classroom, shop class, a music room, and new offices.
The new weight room will be larger with new equipment and includes a 10-ft tall, 30-ft wide window that looks down on the gym. “The number one overall coolest aspect of the entire project would be the fitness/workout center.” Bridges said. Spectators will be able to watch events from the weight room. Bridges wants to open the weight room to the Melcher-Dallas community in the evenings.
Bridges said, “Security will be better because the front doors, both sets will be unlocked in the morning. Once the school day starts, the second set locks and you are forced as a visitor to go to the office to check in and then come around into another door. It creates a fishbowl effect.”
“The new band room will be nice so we don’t have to go to the elementary,” sophomore Dayne Bennett said. The band room will consist of a large practice space, along with two private practice rooms, an office, and a storage closet. Sophomore Jorja Gravett said this would give students “more time for band,” as currently students are being bused to the elementary school for music classes.
The shop and agriculture classrooms will be connected, with a garage door in the shop that will allow students to work on vehicles. The agriculture and art classrooms will have high and wide windows to let in plenty of sunlight.
Bridges was confident the class of 2024 would graduate in the gym, and was looking forward to students utilizing the new space. He was hopeful for future projects to improve the district, such as paving the student parking lot.