New Severance middle school moving along

About the series
This is the first story in the series “From The Ground Up” Windsor Now will be running about the new Windsor-Severance Re-4 Middle School in Severance. The series will include the decision on the name, mascot, curriculum and progress to the first bell of the inaugural year.

Each day there is progress.

Whether it is the concrete gym walls being constructed, the roads and parking lots paved or the mascot and curriculum being developed, the new Windsor-Severance Re-4 Middle School in Severance is on its way to the first day of school in fall 2009.
“It’s neat to get a whole new school. It’s not taking over a school that already has stuff in place. We can start wherever we feel is the best kick-off point,” said Jay Tapia, the school’s principal.

On his agenda each day, Tapia attends curriculum and boundary meetings, is at different schools in the district asking for name and mascot suggestions and updating community members and district staff on the status of the building, staff and other items important to the organization of a new school.

“We are getting closer,” Tapia said.

During the 2007 coordinated election on Nov. 6, voters passed a $41.5 million bond issue to build a new elementary and middle school in Severance, as well as an addition to Grandview Elementary School.

The voters voted yes on issue 3B includes, which included constructing another track at Grandview Elementary, 1563 Grand Ave., which now accommodates 600 students from its former capacity of 450. It also includes capital costs for constructing a new 600-student capacity elementary school in fall 2010 and the new 600-student capacity — with the expansion ability to 900 students -- middle school in Severance near the northeast corner of Weld County roads 70 and 21 in fall 2009.

Tapia said last week the steel beams were delivered for the gymnasium, and paving of the roads and parking lots are completed. Under the watchful eye of the project’s design firm, RB & B, and the work from general contractors, Roche Construction, the floors are to be poured this week. Tapia said, despite losing two days to rain, the building work is right on schedule.

“I feel confident with the guys that are out there,” Tapia said.

As far as the naming of the school, colors and the mascot, Tapia is looking to the students and parents in the Re-4 school district and their creativity. He had them fill a suggestion box and will form a committee of students (who must right an essay) and parents to determine the top four. Tapia will then have all the schools and community vote on the final two to be presented to the board of education.

“It’s interesting to talk to kids,” Tapia said. “They say, ‘Well, we are going to be the Wizards,’ but that’s already taken. There has been a lot of (suggestions) for hawks, bulldogs, lions, cats, wildcats and links. Ocelot is probably the one that threw me the most.”

“(It’s important) because then they have ownership,” Tapia added on why he wants the community involved. “Even if they are not a parent, but a community member, they’re the ones that passed the bond.”

Tapia has also been working on determining the curriculum for the school. He has visited two brand new schools in Douglas County to gain ideas and tips. Tapia hopes to ask for the school board’s approval on a curriculum at the November meeting.

“Primarily, what I was looking for is not only ideas, but how to communicate to the public,” Tapia said. “What were some things that caught them off guard or snuck up on them.”

And before the 2008 year is complete, the plan is to have boundaries in place and approved. Tapia and other district staff, along with a demographer, have met since August to develop the boundaries. Several public meetings in November have been set up for community input.

“I’m excited. I just want to get the other stuff going so we can start moving forward,” Tapia said. “I’m really excited to get the curriculum, and I can start hiring a core team.”

Windsor-Severance Re-4 Middle School No. 2 Public Meetings
Oct. 21: Ideas & Input meeting 6-7 p.m. at the Mountain View Elementary cafeteria, 810 3rd St.
Oct. 23: Ideas & Input meeting 6-7 p.m. at the Skyview Elementary library, 1000 Stone Mountain Drive.
Oct. 28: Ideas & Input meeting 6-7 p.m. at the Grandview Elementary library, 1583 Grandview Drive.
Oct. 29: Ideas & Input meeting 6- 7 p.m. at the Windsor Middle School library, 900 Main St.
Nov. 3: Boundary meeting, 6 p.m. at the Re-4 District Administration Building, 1020 Main St.
Nov. 5: Boundary meeting, 11 a.m. at the Re-4 District Administration Building, 1020 Main St.
Nov. 11: Boundary meeting, 6 p.m. at the Re-4 District Administration Building, 1020 Main St.
For more information, questions or ideas, contact Jay Tapia, principal, at (970) 686-8010 or by e-mail at jay.tapia@weldre4.k12.co.us.