By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Hays USD 489 cut the ribbon on its final bond-funded project at Felten Elementary School on Monday night.
School started at the school today.
The former middle school has room for four sections of each grade. However, only three sections are being used at this time.
Felten is the last project funded by a $143 million bond issue.
Other projects included a new high school, the former high school being renovated into a new middle school, and additions and renovations at Roosevelt and O’Loughlin elementary schools.
The building now known as Felten Elementary School opened as a junior high school in 1964. It was renamed Felten Middle School in 1981 after former mayor Pete Felten Sr. After renovations and district consolidation, the school was renamed again in 2012 to Hays Middle School before the school board renamed it, with a nod to its history, Felten Elementary School.
“We feel very thankful for our community as they have supported the bond and just all of the patience that goes on with construction and the movement and everything,” Superintendent Ron Wilson said.
He thanked DLR, the district’s architect, and Nabholz Construction, the district’s construction manager.
He also thanked former Wilson Elementary School Principal Anita Scheve, who helped with the renovation planning, and new principal Tracy Archer.
“This building represents more than just bricks, classrooms and hallways,” Archer said. “It represents a promise. This promise is that children of our community deserve a place where they can grow, learn, feel safe, discover who they are and dream about what they want to become.
“And that promise became possible because of incredible community efforts that included our bond.”
She said the school will benefit the children of Hays for generations to come.
“This school is just a physical reminder of what can happen when a community rallies around its youth,” she said.
She also expressed appreciation to the school staff.
“A beautiful building is wonderful, but we all know it's the people inside that make a school special,” Archer said.
“You are the heart of Felton. You will fill these classrooms with laughter, encouragement, curiosity, challenge, kindness and love. You will be the people that the students remember long after they leave these hallways.”
She told the students, it is their school.
“Every classroom, every hallway, and every playground was designed and created with you in mind,” Archer said. “I hope that you walk through these doors every morning, knowing that your community believes in you and invested in your future.”
Garrett Scott, DLR architect, called the Hays schools labors of love.
Chris Billinger, Nabholz project manager, said his work on the Hays schools has been the greatest work experience of my entire career.
“I grew up in a small town, and I'm forever going to be thankful for a lot of the relationships I have developed during my time here, and also the ones I'm going to take home with me,” he said.
Archer cut the ribbon, surrounded by the redicated school's students.
Students and their parents then visited their new classrooms and met their teachers.