Back to school amid construction in Waverly
Review Photo/BRIAN BISHOP Students in Dave Calabrese's earth science class study on the first day of school in Waverly. In front of the class is High School Principal Kim Forero.
Review Photo/BRIAN BISHOP Students wait to board buses at the end of school Wednesday in Waverly.
WAVERLY, N.Y. - Students, faculty and staff in the Waverly Central School District started their school year Wednesday amid the district's continuing Capital Assets Preservation Project.
The $43 million renovation project includes upgrades and renovations to all of the district's buildings.
The construction "hasn't been a problem," Superintendent Mike McMahon said, with things going well the first day. McMahon credited the district staff with a job well done in getting things ready to go for the first day on a limited time table, as construction work kept teachers out of their classrooms for most of the summer.
"Everyone did a nice job making it all work," he said.
Work on the project will continue throughout the school year. Work will be done during hours when school isn't in session, McMahon said, or in areas where there is no student access during school hours.
"Generally speaking, it's going full steam ahead while school is in session," he said, but in ways that aren't going to impact students. For example, steel work was being completed Wednesday on the new pool at the middle/high school, he said, along with work in the basement of Elm Street Elementary. Both of those areas are currently inaccessible to students.
High School Principal Kim Forero said that things were going off without a hitch on the first day for students in grades 7-12.
"We certainly are happy to see students back in the halls, listening to their excited conversations about classes and activities," she said.
The district held orientations for kids in seven and ninth grades Tuesday night, she said, which "certainly helped" with any transition anxiety the students may have had. Seventh grade is the first year of study for students in the middle school, while students transfer to the high school starting in ninth grade.
Forero said the partially renovated building holds bright promise for what the finished product will be in a year's time.
The district's enrollment looks to be consistent with last year's total enrollment of around 1,836, McMahon said, though the total enrollment for this year won't be known exactly for a few days because of last-minute registrations.
"I'm personally looking forward to a great year with a wonderful student body," Forero said.
Brian Bishop can be reached at (570) 888-9652; or e-mail: bbishop@thedailyreview.com.
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