CPS releases new secure entrance addition plans

To improve safety and provide additional layers of security for students and staff in Carrington's high school building, the Carrington Public School District unveiled plans for a 5,000 square foot addition.

The plans, prepared by YHR Partners, call for the construction of a secure front entrance and new administrative offices on the school's west side, which will extend from the current high school entry to the west edge of the property along 3rd Avenue.

The new entrance was designed to match the East Gym and elementary school entrances built in 2016. As shown in the rendering above, which was provided by YHR Partners, the new vestibule will have two sets of doors and a full-glass wall so staff can see visitors before they enter the building.

Inside the first set of doors, staff will use a key fob to enter and visitors will push a button for access, as the inside set of doors will be locked.

There will also be a separate entrance into the new administrative offices from within the vestibule, and visitors will be asked to enter the office before they go elsewhere into the school during designated hours.

Cross corridor security doors will be installed where the high school intersects with the other areas of the school. This will allow staff to engage a full lockdown of the entire facility with one action, should the need arise.

A new off-street designated drop off zone south of the new entrance will allow parents to drive up and drop their students right at the main entrance. Designated staff and visitor parking will be added on the north side of the new addition.

The 5,000 square foot addition includes a large reception area, new offices for all administrative staff, a conference room for school board meetings, staff lounge and work and storage space.

The project also calls for the renovation of 2,300 square feet inside the current high school. The south wall of the existing vestibule will be opened up to provide more space in the commons area In addition, place for a future school store offering Cardinal gear and other school supply essentials has been included in the plans.

The administrative offices will be re-purposed into classrooms, to serve students at any level depending on the future needs of the district. Right now, with the addition of the pre-K program in 2022, the elementary school is at capacity, Superintendent Janelle Helm says.

"The safety and security of our students is of the utmost importance," added Helm, noting that interior classrooms are preferable for that reason.

School board members unanimously approved a motion to move forward with the project at their Feb. 13 meeting.

"The security entrance coupled with the security hallway doors and new offices will upgrade the 1963 high school to a 2024 facility that should serve the students of the Carrington School District for another 50-60 years," said President Joel Lemer.

Board member Kevin Wolsky highlighted the drop zone and parking area in addition to the security features in the plan.

"I believe that after the completion of the elementary school and how the security system works and how the flow of traffic for picking up and dropping off students is so effective and easy, it should be duplicated on the high school side," Wolsky said Wednesday. "It also includes parking, which is always in short supply at our school...I really think this is a well thought out project."

"All of our students and staff should have the same level of security and the comfort of knowing that we as school leaders are doing everything we can to keep them safe while they're in our care," board member Tonia Erickson added.

Erickson also addressed the need for classroom space. "We need to be prepared for potential growth," she said. "This will also add classroom space, which we know we will need in the very near future."

The project has an estimated price tag of $4 million. The district proposes a 20-year bond, and the payments would be made from the building fund.

As reported last week, the school district presented a proposal to increase the building fund levy from 5 mills to 10 mills. Lemer explained at Tuesday's meeting that a 10-mill building fund would provide enough revenue to make the annual payments on this project, based on 2024 taxable valuation. With all the district's facilities now replaced or upgraded in the past 10 years, the district anticipates that any additional maintenance needed could be covered by the healthy general fund reserve.

Should the building fund levy referendum pass this summer, the board intends to solicit bids for the project in December with construction to begin as early as next year.

Public meetings will be held in the coming months to give residents and taxpayers the opportunity to ask questions and provide input on the proposed plans. The details about those meetings will be published in the Independent.