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Construction work on
the new Rolland-Warner Middle School continues
at a great pace. A large transformation of the
property at Woodside has occurred this fall.
The exterior
construction of the entire building footprint is
complete. The entire sixth grade wing is
complete and now houses the Lapeer Community
High School students.
After a two-month
nomination process the school now has a new
name, Rolland-Warner Middle School, named for
Doris Rolland and the late Ronald C. Warner. The
Board of Education chose the name from among 19
suggested names citing the long educational and
community services of both individuals.
On December 16,
2008, Abi Warner, the wife of the late Ron
Warner, and Doris Rolland, donned hard hats and
received their first look and visit to the
school that will now bear the new name. The two
women were honored by the Board of Education at
the December 18 Board meeting.
“We are one step
closer to the dream of a top quality middle
school program in the District,” said
Superintendent Debbie Thompson. “As extensive as
the brick and mortar work is, there is even more
work going into the building and shaping of a
middle school academic program, second to none.”
Window-lined
hallways of the new sixth-grade wing provide a
bright and airy atmosphere for the new
classrooms.
Demolition of the
interior of the old gymnasium and classroom
wings is now complete. Construction and
remodeling is underway for those classroom wings
as well as the new wings and new gymnasium on
the south side of the property.
During the fall,
excavation and grounds work was completed on the
new athletic field areas of the site and grass
was planted. With normal spring weather those
fields should be well rooted when the school
opens in September of 2009, as the final year of
7th-grade only Zemmer Junior High
School.
More than 100
workers, almost all from Michigan, arrive at the
site each day. Many of them are finding their
way to area stores, restaurants and gas stations
during their lunch and off-duty hours.
Construction work is
on schedule for completion of the middle school
in the summer of 2009. A dedication and open
house will take place in August of 2009. Zemmer
Junior High School students will arrive in
September of 2009.
Construction on the
Cramton gymnasium is now complete and is being
used by the Lapeer West wrestling team for
practices.
In the next phase of
the bond, the construction of the remodeled and
expanded Zemmer Middle School, will begin
immediately with the close of the 2008-2009
school year in June. Demolition of the interior
of the school will begin as well as exterior
construction and grading work as soon as
teachers and students depart.
The District
continues to be grateful to the voters of the
District who recognized the long-standing need
for a quality middle school program in the
District by passing the bond that made this
possible in May 2007. |
