District Info: Bond Progress: Information

Superintendent of Schools Mark A. Evans, Board of Education President Dale Graham, BOE members Carly Haynes, Nancy Kirkendoll (vice president), Clare Wilkins, Jeff Ablah and Dr. Linda Hope, Governor Kathleen Sebelius, BOE member Roger Elliott, Assistant Superintendent Tom Ostrander, and Associate Superintendent Dr. Andy Koenigs break ground for a new elementary school.

Governor Sebelius attends Andover Public Schools elementary groundbreaking event

June 26, 2006

Governor Kathleen Sebelius attended a groundbreaking ceremony this evening for a new Andover elementary school. The school, which will be located one quarter mile north of 21^st on 159th St., is scheduled to open in Fall 2007. The building will be 64,000 square feet with 31 classrooms and a capacity of 550 students.

In September 2005, voters in the Andover school district approved by a nearly three to one margin a $39.68 million bond issue. The school on 159^th St. will be the first of three new elementary schools built as part of the bond issue. Other bond projects include additional classrooms and a competition gym at Andover High School, additional classrooms at Cottonwood Elementary School, renovating Robert M. Martin and Meadowlark Elementary schools into one school, safety and security issues and activity/athletic facility improvements districtwide.

Governor Kathleen Sebelius helped Andover elementary school students break ground for a new elementary school.

Superintendent of Schools Mark A. Evans led the celebration, and in addition to Evans and Gov. Sebelius, Board of Education President Dale Graham and Board of Education member Jeff Ablah spoke to the more than 100 attendees. Elementary students Brianna Harshaw, 2^nd grade, Sunflower Elementary School; Madison Cline, 4^th grade, Cottonwood Elementary School; Jenny Hahn, 5^th grade, Robert M. Martin Elementary School; and Allison Mendenhall, 5^th grade, Meadowlark Elementary School, led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. (Grades listed are for the 2006-2007 school year.)

Donning hard hats to break ground were Gov. Sebelius, Evans, Graham, Ablah, Board of Education Vice President Nancy Kirkendoll, Board of Education members Dr. Linda Hope, Carly Hanes, Clare Wilkins and Roger Elliott, as well as Associate Superintendent Dr. Andy Koenigs and Assistant Superintendent Tom Ostrander. They were later joined in turning the dirt by more than 20 Andover elementary school students in attendance.

The project architect is Howard and Helmer. Coonrod and Associates is the contractor.

You can view the video podcast here.

For up-to-date information about bond work progress, visit www.usd385.org.