Construction Central
For the second time in two years, Superintendent Mike McGrory has presented a vision to transform Ottumwa Schools into the best school district in the state. The board presentation on May 23, coined Vision of Excellence, is the second phase of the district's Be The Best Initiative. The board of directors unanimously approved the recommendations. The recommendations are based on the district's need to upgrade existing facilities, expand curricular and extracurricular opportunities, and create more personalized learning environments across all grade levels. To gauge support, the district surveyed students, staff members, and the community in January. After receiving overwhelming support, McGrory's Be The Best Phase II recommendations include:
Starting in August 2022, all south side kindergarten students will attend Pickwick Early Childhood Center.
- For the 2022-23 school year, Douma will become a 1-2 building.
- Construct a new 3-5 elementary school, located on the Douma campus. After construction is complete, south side students in grades 1-5 will attend school at the current Douma location.
- For the 2023-24 school year, OHS will become a 10-12 building, Evans will become an 8-9 building, and Liberty will become a 6-7 building.
- James and Wilson - Summer 2022
- Horace Mann - Thanksgiving 2022
- Eisenhower - Summer 2023
- Horace Mann, James, and Wilson - Summer 2022
- Eisenhower - Summer 2024
Horace Mann, James, Wilson, and Eisenhower - Summer 2022
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- James - Summer 2022
- Horace Mann and Wilson - Summer 2023
- Eisenhower - Summer 2024
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- Wilson - Summer 2022
- Horace Mann and James - Summer 2023
- Eisenhower - Summer 2024
- Horace Mann and James - Summer 2023
- Eisenhower and Wilson - Summer 2024
Information Coming Soon!
- Horace Mann
- HVAC & Playgrounds - Summer 2022
- Secure Entrance - Thanksgiving 2022
- Exterior Signage, Kitchen Upgrades, Windows & Doors -Summer 2023
- Eisenhower
- Playground - Summer 2022
- Secure Entrance - Summer 2023
- Exterior Signage, Kitchen Upgrades, Windows & Doors, HVAC - Summer 2024
- James
- Secure Entrance, Playground, Exterior Signage, Upgrade HVAC - Summer 2022
- Kitchen Upgrades, Windows & Doors - Summer 2023
- Wilson
- Secure Entrance, Playground, Kitchen Upgrades - Summer 2022
- Exterior Signage, HVAC - Summer 2023
- Windows & Doors - Summer 2024
- Make Ottumwa High School a 10-12 grade building that creates a more personalized learning environment for students.
- Add receptionist desk to the OHS main entrance.
- This would provide significant investments to Ottumwa High School now versus saving for a possible new high school in the future.
- This can be done through available funds without raising taxes.
- Remodeling OHS to create modern and dynamic learning spaces, exterior and interior upgrades, and improving curricular and extracurricular activities.
- Improvements in parking and lighting will help accentuate the historic building.
OHS becomes 10-12 grades August 2023
Look to open the new Gateway Center in August of 2022 for grades 9-12 which will improve the culture and climate by creating a safe, supportive learning environment that incorporates real, authentic learning experiences that address student needs. Watch for an updated rendering of the center coming soon!
Gateway Center open August 2022
On Monday, May 23, Gateway Principal, Aiddy Phomvisay, announced the school's new school name, design, logo and learning vision. See the presentation link below. The presentation includes floor plans; interior and exterior concept designs; and material samples provided by architects from Legat Architects. The building's first floor includes: offices, business center, commons space, Makerspace, Zen room, wellness studio, clinic and counseling spaces, Family Resource Center, that includes clothing and a food pantry, washer/dryer, and showers. The second floor will feature all instructional classrooms, a science lab, student commons, collaboration areas, and a virtual learning lab. Students will access the second floor of the Gateway Center via a new open staircase/stairwell. The existing elevator will become ADA compliant to serve the needs of students/staff with mobility issues. Increasing the number and size of the existing windows will provide classrooms with natural light. There was also discussion on parking for students and staff. Bids will go out on Tuesday, May 17 with the final bid awards approved by the Board on June 13.
Student enrollment and staffing is nearly complete. Staff professional development days are May 31, June 3, and June 9. June 9 is also a staff planning day at Career Campus. All training time is 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Career Campus.
Phomvisay also acknowledged Legacy Foundation for their strategic grant of $642,000 over four years to provide mental health therapy, counseling services, work-based learning and professional development.
- Evans Middle School will serve students in grades 8th & 9th.
- iJAG room to be completed.
- Auditorium
- Roof, entryways, HVAC, doors
- Serving fewer students will provide more personalized learning while expanding opportunities for Career Technical Education, pre-AP courses, and high school credit offerings.
- Consolidating these grades will promote smaller learning communities, increase student achievement, create a smooth transition between grades 8 and 9, and provide more significant support for academic and social-emotional learning.
- Combining these grades into one location will result in various extracurricular opportunities for both 8th grade and freshmen.
Evans becomes 8 & 9 August 2023
- Liberty Elementary will become an intermediate learning center for grades 6-7.
- The facility, with wide hallways and a competition gym, will provide the appropriate grade configuration for this age of students.
- The facility and expansive campus will be able to offer more curricular and extracurricular opportunities for students.
- A new disc golf course will complement existing outdoor recreational opportunities for this age group.
- Bussing older students will also decrease traffic congestion at this location.
Liberty becomes 6 & 7 August 2023
- Douma Elementary will be the site of two smaller schools serving grades 1-2 and grades 3-5.
- This will create ideal grade configurations that bring uniformity to elementary schools across the district as well as a small neighborhood-school feel.
- The campus will include two school facilities connected with a walkway to allow shared cafeteria and gym space.
- Teachers will have increased opportunities to collaborate and articulate across grade levels.
- The Douma location also offers several access points and will be designed to provide parents with easy drop-off and pick-up options.
As of Wednesday, May 18, the following renderings are the most current concepts created for the new 3-5 facilty on the Douma campus.
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- Douma becomes 1 & 2 August 2022
- 3-5 addition construction begins (on Douma campus) Fall 2022
- New 3-5 building anticipated opening August 2023
Douma custodians are taking off the entire month of June. Who will be moving our stuff in the classrooms? Also who will be cleaning carpets, etc. We will have the new person for Terrys position over there and a floating sub. We will take care of everything we need to do.
Janitorial staff would like to know if the furniture that is coming over (if it's coming over) will be cleaned PRIOR to being brought over? Yes, any furniture brought over will be cleaned before it arrives.
How many nurses will serve Douma and the new 3-5 building? There will be one, centrally-located nurse serving all students in grades 1-5.
How many school secretaries will be at Douma? There will be a secretary for the 1-2 center and one for the 3-5.
What about furniture? - Teachers are welcome to bring their furniture - IE - teacher desks, cabinets, file cabinets and bookshelves. We should have enough student desks at Douma for the 2nd grade classrooms since they can be raised. We will look at upgrading furniture on a whole when we start looking at ordering for the new 3-5 building. Teachers in grades 1-2 will be involved in that as well.
- Pickwick parking lot adds 60+ spots
- Pickwick Early Childhood Center will become a PK-K facility, serving the district’s youngest learners and all southside kindergarten students. Increased student achievement for preschool students and kindergarten preparedness through project-based learning, student engagement, meeting core standards, and greater teacher collaboration.
- Staggered drop-off and pick-up alleviate wait times and schedules can be worked around parent needs.
- Busing is also an option for these young learners.
Pickwick becomes PK & Southside Kindergarten August 2022
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