KK Radio Network

New WDC Middle-High School in the homestretch!

The new Wadena-Deer Creek Middle-High School is nearing the finishing stages this month and will be ready for the opening day of school, Sept. 4.

 “The new building is on schedule with the target occupancy date currently for Aug. 20,” said WDC Superintendent Virginia Dahlstrom on Wednesday, Aug. 1.

 Move-in dates include the media center, art and science classrooms on Aug. 15, followed by grades 5-6 and 9-12 on Aug. 20 and grades 7-8 on Aug. 22. WDC staff will be helping with the move.

 Kraus-Anderson Construction Site Manager, Bill Born, said the school is looking great and workers are busy completing the finishing touches inside, such as installing the finishing wall stone, and finishing the terrazzo and classroom flooring within the next week.

 Other work that’s completed or nearly completed include: the gym floor and bleachers are installed; elevator and fire alarm inspections will be completed next week, ongoing plumbing and electrical inspections weekly, and the air conditioning will be turned on Aug. 6.

 WDC broke ground on May 9, 2011 on the new grades 5-12 school and will open the school to the public on Wednesday, Aug. 29 with a Dedication Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Immediately following the program, the public will get its first peak of the grades 5-12 campus.

 The $38 million state-of-the-art, high-performance school was built with insurance proceeds after the June 17, 2010 tornado severely damaged the high school. Staff and students are anxious to move into this facility after two years of being at different locations in Wadena and Deer Creek.

 For more updates on the school or general information, go to www.wdc2155.k12.mn.us.

(Photos by Dana Pavek, WDC Schools)