Andover Public Schools breaks ground for Prairie Creek Elementary School
June 29, 2007
Andover Public Schools broke ground June 25, 2007, for Prairie Creek Elementary School. The school will be located on the south side of Kellogg approximately one quarter mile east of Andover Road. The Andover school district spans 47 square miles, encompassing portions of Butler and Sedgwick counties. Prairie Creek Elementary School will be 64,000 square feet with 31 classrooms and a capacity of 550 students. It is scheduled to open in August 2008.
The main speaker for this event was Kansas State Board of Education Vice Chair Carol Rupe. Superintendent of Schools Mark A. Evans also spoke at the groundbreaking celebration along with Board of Education President Dale Graham. Dennis Schoenebeck of the YMCA talked about their new project in Andover, which will be located next to Prairie Creek Elementary School. Project partners Mayor Ben Lawrence of Andover and developer Paul Jackson of Vantage Point Properties, Inc. were also on hand to break ground for the school.
A Dixieland Quintet made up of AHS students and staff played Sweet Georgia Brown and When the Saints Go Marching In to kick off the event. Four elementary students led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance (Jenny Hahn from Martin, Makenzie Allison from Meadowlark, Chase Merrit from Cottonwood and Kaylee Mellott from Sunflower).
The project architect is Howard and Helmer. Coonrod and Associates is the contractor.
Prairie Creek Elementary School groundbreaking
In September 2005, voters in the Andover school district approved by a nearly three to one margin a $39.68 million bond issue. Robert M. Martin Elementary School, on 159th St. approximately one quarter mile north of 21st St., was the first of three new elementary schools built as part of the bond issue. It is scheduled to open in August 2007. The district broke ground on Wheatland Elementary School (on the north side of 21st St. between 143rd and 159th) June 6. It is scheduled to open in August 2008. Other bond projects include additional classrooms and a competition gym at Andover High School, additional classrooms at Cottonwood Elementary School, renovating Meadowlark Elementary School, safety and security issues and activity/athletic facility improvements districtwide. The work at Cottonwood Elementary and the activity/athletic facility improvements were completed in 2006, and the safety and security issues are nearly complete. The work at Andover High School is underway.
