Construction on the new facilities at the high school started in the Summer of 2022. The new projects include a new gym, a remodeled band room, an administration building and an improved parking lot. The earliest of these projects, the administration building, is due to be finished by December 2022. Superintendent of Finances and Operations Dr. Steve Morgan believes this is a much needed project.
“A major benefit would be a new facility, a safer facility, a better facility that we can show off to our community to those who come and visit and participate in it,” Dr. Morgan said. “It’s gonna be a state of the art gym, band room, and kitchen, and we’re fired up about it and it’ll showcase what Fort Osage has to offer for our kids and our community.”
Before the start of the 2022-2023 School Year, the Senior lot was ripped up for work on the new gym. Junior Mercadies Kendrick finds that the parking has been hard on students.
“I like that we’re having construction done to our school to better our school,” Kendrick said. “It’s just a hassle because of the limited parking that teachers and students get, and getting out of the school at the end of the day.”
Work on the parking, kitchen, and drive upgrades is due to be completed during Summer 2023, Sophomore Supha Yates felt that the construction on the lot has been somewhat chaotic.
“I think it’s good that we’re getting a new lot but I feel like they started it at a very inconvenient time,” Yates said. “I feel like there’s a lack of seniority.”
Progress started following the passage of the 2021 Levy and Bond Transfer. Junior Dennis Mikula Jr. has been questioning if a new gym was necessary.
“I am a little bit more upset about why we’re having construction,” Mikula Jr. said. “I believe that a third gym isn’t exactly what this school needs, I think this school’s finances could be used a lot better than that.”
The current varsity gym was built in 1967 and only accommodates approximately 1,050 people, while the new one is estimated to hold 1,875 people. Boys Basketball Coach Josh Wilson believes that the new construction will increase accessibility and equality as well.
“I feel like it’s gonna have a lot of benefits,” Mr. Wilson said, “The biggest thing for me is the locker room equality, now girls are gonna have a place to prepare before practice and have their own area.”
The construction of the walls began during the week of Sept. 11-17 and is expected to be completed by October of 2023.
