Kindergarten Classroom (photo by Julie DelCamp)
Shepherd School District is proud to be showcasing the recent improvements due to renovating, remodeling, restructuring and expanding. Superintendent Drea O’Donnell gave Yellowstone County News a tour this week showing the improvements room by room which included expansions, and newly closed corridors.
O’Donnell came on board as an interim Superintendent during a rather precarious time having stepped into the midst of the passing of two highly debated school bonds to finance upgrades and expansions to the school, which translates into the fact that O’Donnell has overseen all of the renovations, remodels, expansions and improvements at Shepherd School District.
The original Shepherd School house was erected in 1911 with several additions throughout the years. During those years maintenance and improvements have been routinely made; however, with time, a mold issue and an ever-increasing population of students was time for something more current, accommodating and healthy for staff and students alike. O’Donnell said, “… in addition to these new spaces, we have added security measures, that include cameras and a door bell you must press before you are allowed to enter.” The Elementary School has a separate entrance which is conveniently located just south of the security point to make checking in more convenient and streamlined for both visitors, staff and most importantly the students. The Junior High/High School entrance has also been moved to the south side of the building across from where it was previously located. These safety measures were implemented with the best interest and personal safety of each and every student attending Shepherd School District in mind.
Before the remodeling and expansion process, the corridors between the main building and library were entirely open to the elements as well as food being prepared in a separate space all together then being transported through the elements to the cafeteria where the students could sit down and eat. Now, it’s one enormous cafeteria/ multi-purpose room and most spectacular kitchen. The cafeteria is sleek, clean and very contemporary; there are basketball hoops at each end, but it’s still all so new there aren’t any current plans for basketball games in the cafeteria, but it does show a vision for the future.
The kindergarten and first grade classrooms are all part of the new section of the school. Upon entering the hallway, you are invited into this space with an enormous welcome sign. (See photo.) The classroom was full of colorful artwork the children were working on. “The kindergarten classrooms even have their own bathroom, just in case,” exclaimed O’Donnell. There are numerous improvements– it’s difficult to imagine how they all functioned before the closed corridors and new kindergarten and first grade classrooms. It must have been a tight squeeze.
The library is roughly is the same “general” location as the old library was, but now it is connected to the main building through a closed corridor which will keep the carpets dry and the kids warm during those wet winter months. The library is now located on the second floor, of the cafeteria expansion; during the tour of the library, it was evident that they’re still unpacking books from U-Haul boxes and placing them in their given category within this beautiful new library.
The biology and chemistry classrooms are practically identical with the one exception that the chemistry lab has gas piped in. They have wide open spaces for labs as well as classroom space for lectures, both sparkling and smelling of new construction. Just outside of the chemistry lab, there is a moderately sized seating area that is awaiting new furniture in order to accommodate students that simply need a place to rest, regroup or have a chat.
The administration building “…used to be an entirely separate space, now it’s right in the middle of it all on the second floor just above that cafeteria,” said O’Donnell. “The old administration building is going to be repurposed as the classrooms for our Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) programs we have through Yellowstone Boys’ and Girls’ Ranch. We are waiting on some funding issues at the state before we move them over there for a more permanent spot,” said O’Donnell. The new administration offices are connected by a hallway, all being centrally located within a conference area. It’s all strategic planning for the utmost in space and functionality.
In addition to all of the new construction, there have been some much-needed improvements within the original footprint. The art room is in an entirely newly renovated space which boasts a ceramics lab right next to the art room. There are new math lab classrooms and an 8th grade science class with lab space that used to be a Family Consumer Science (FCS) classroom. The corridor that once took you outside, is now fully enclosed and attached to the concession area in the main lobby of the Jr. High/High School entrance. It resembles a coffee shop more than a high school space, comfortable and inviting.
Superintendent O’Donnell said, “We are all excited for what the new spaces have to offer our staff and students, and we want to give a huge thank you to our community for supporting the education of our children!”
