JASA SANTOS Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Thursday, October 2, 2008 12:00 am
The fourth-graders at Fort Caspar Academy are basking in the joy of a brand-new school year that has come complete with a brand new school building.
"We have more space to learn," said Caleigh Burgen, 10.
"We can breathe," added 9-year-old Mackenzie Chadderdon. "I like the hallways. You got squashed [at the old building]."
It's been just over a month since students and staff opened the doors and filled the classrooms at the new Ft. Caspar Academy, located at 4100 W. 38th Street, near the Wolf Creek Development.
Everyone is still trying to get acclimated to the building, said principal Janelle Ehrich, adding she just finished unpacking her own office not long ago.
"We've had to learn to live in it," Ehrich said. "We still have some furniture coming."
The increase in space has come as a relief for students and for teachers - the new building is approximately 63,000 square feet, compared to the old building's 27,000. Construction costs for the new school totaled an estimated $17 million.
"I had one mom tell me her little boy said he wanted to go back to the old school, because the new building is so big," Ehrich said. "Even good change is change."
The new school is equipped with high-access technology, a full library and new art and music rooms. At the old Ft. Caspar, art and music were held in portable trailers outside the main building.
Having all the classes in one building is really nice, said 10-year-old Brooke Sides.
"I like how there's no portables, so in the winter we don't have to walk in the cold for music and art," Brooke said.
Art teacher Hank Washut doesn't exactly miss his old portable classroom.
"It was a 10-foot-by-32-foot trailer," Washut said. "They called it 'Hank's Hall.'"
In the portable, students sat cramped together at tables that faced the walls, Washut said. His new classroom has plenty of room for students to stretch their legs and nice big windows to look out of. It's taken a little getting used to, Washut said with a smile.
"It's different having elbow room, and the kids not all squeezed together," he said. "This has just been wow."
Fourth-graders Taylor Thornton and Mickey Neuman said the old school simply lacks the "awesomeness" the new building offers.
"It was ugly," Taylor, 10, said. "The outside was bleh."
"The building wasn't as big as this," Mickey, 10, said. "And the gym wasn't really big."
"It was teeny," Jesse Carr, 10, added.
Ehrich said every little thing at the school has been new and fun for the students and staff. In no time, she imagined everyone finally would be settled into their new home.
"It's been really interesting," she said. "We just walk around and go, 'Wow, can you believe we're here?'"
Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com