Shiner gets a preview of their new school

Shiner gets a preview of their new school
New building will open after spring break
Friday, February 16, 2007
Barry Halvorson, Victoria Advocate Sports Editor

VictoriaAdvocate.com Article | Shiner School Construction News | Construction Watch Home Page

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Checking out their new home court, members of the Shiner High athletic teams were among the estimated 500 people touring the district's new school building Wednesday night. The district is scheduled to move into the building the spring break week of March 12-16.

all photos by Barry Halvorson, Victoria Advocate

SHINER - The new Shiner school building first captured the imagination - and then the praise - of the community during the final public tour on Wednesday before it opens after spring break next month.

School officials expected 200 to 300 to show up, but an estimated 500 people ranging from grandparents to children too young to have started school showed up for the tour of a building that some of the crowd said was too long in coming.

"There's a lot more room, the labs are modern and the gym is awesome," J.J. Moeller, a 1990 graduate said. He has three children, a second-grader, pre-kindergartener and 2-year-old, who will be attending the new school. "It's definitely an improvement of the old (high school building.) I spent a lot of hours in the old science lab and it was pathetic 15 years ago when I was here. For me, it took too long to build this but I'm glad it will be here for my children."

Another parent, Tim Michalec, who has children in 10th and fourth grades, took his first tour of the new campus, located next to Comanche Stadium near Green-Dickson Park.

"This is something we definitely needed for the future," he said. "I know kids can learn anywhere, but I think a modern building with everything you need will make it easier for them to learn. And having a new building will be fun for the kids and something they deserve. The youth of the community are our future."

A new believer after the tour was Lisa Schroeder, who has two children who are future Shiner students.

"I had my doubts about it when it was first announced, particularly with grade school and high school students sharing a building," she said. "My kids won't have the old buildings to compare to the new but for someone involved in science like myself, science, math and computer access are a high priority and they've done a good job of providing for those areas."

Alice Evans was another first timer to take the tour. While her own children have graduated, she now has grandchildren attending school in Shiner.

"I'm excited about this because it has been needed for a long time," she said. "The classrooms and labs are nice but I really like the new gym. My granddaughter plays basketball and volleyball and I'll be spending a lot of time here."

Definitely different than the "Dungeon" science lab in the current Shiner High building, students and parents check out the lab facility in the new Shiner school building.

Another who will be spending a lot of time in the gym is Shiner High sophomore Ali Arnold.

"This is crazy good," she said. "Playing here is going to be awesome. I really like the bigger rooms and newer labs but the gym and sports have always been a big part of my life and I'm looking forward to playing here."

Shiner Superintendent Trey Lawrence and school board president Denise Overton were more than pleased with the way the building has turned out and the public's response to it.

"I've heard nothing but praise," Overton said. "And I've really enjoyed watching the little kids and seeing the wonder and excitement they have and their need to touch things to see if it's all real with eyes as big as dinner plates."

And while the district has always been noted for maintaining both high academic and athletic standards, Overton said the new building will give those looking to move to Shiner another reason to come.

Prior to the tour, project architect Jim Singleton said the building is almost ready for move in and has been accepted as being substantially complete.

"It's about 95 percent with just a few punch list items left," he said. "But biggest thing is some of the equipment from the kitchen, like the walk-in freezer, still have to be moved by that can't be done until spring break. But overall it's ready to go."

The district is scheduled to move into the new $7.493 million campus the spring break week of March 12-16. The new facility will house grades pre-kindergarten through 12 and is replacing a high school building that was opened in 1927. The classroom portion of the facility has elementary classes downstairs with the secondary classrooms upstairs. The rest of the campus, connected by an enclosed walkway, includes various science and computer labs, the cafeteria, gym, vocational classrooms and library and will be shared by all grades.

Barry Halvorson is a reporter for The Victoria Advocate.
Contact him at 361-798-3888, or by e-mail at hvilladv@vicad.com.

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