Middle School Renovation Plans Underway

In 2015, the Deer Park Facilities Committee came together to assess and prioritize the needs of our district facilities. This committee is made up of 6 Deer Park citizens, the Deer Park School District (DPSD) Superintendent, Deer Park’s Facilities Manager, and a School Board member. While convened, the committee determined replacement of the 6th grade and Special Education portables at the middle school to be top priority.

These portables have been in use since 1996, following the decision to transition the 6th graders from Arcadia to the Middle School. They were always intended to be a temporary solution.

Other reasons for the urgency of this renovation are to:

  • Ensure that needs of the Special Education students are met according to Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) standards
  • Keep the facility current on child welfare and safety regulations
  • Be prepared for anticipated population growth within our community

The DPSD hired MMEC Architecture & Interiors, owned by DPHS graduate Boyd Lusaretta, to create several designs of the intended renovation. After much consideration, they are now ready to present the final 3 choices. Travis Hanson( DPSD Superintendent) wants to stress that a final design choice will not be made until all members of the Citizens Committee, the School Board, and Staff have the opportunity to view each proposal. After the final design choice is made, the bid process should be ready to start in 2020 or 2021.

About The Funding

Mr. Hanson is also thrilled to report that the money intended to complete this particular project has been set aside in the district’s Capital Funds and it will NOT be necessary to go to the taxpayers via a bond measure or capital levy.

While the middle school project is presently the district’s main focus, a long-range facilities plan also prioritizes a few other large projects that may be addressed in a future bond measure or capital levy, they include:

  • A new Transportation Building, to accommodate the demand for more buses as our community grows; 15 acres behind the High School has already been purchased for this endeavor
  • Renovation and expansion of the High School Sports Complex to ensure the district meets Title 9 (prevents discrimination) regulations
  • Cafeteria expansion at Arcadia and Middle School
  • Replacement of 4 classroom portables at Homelink
  • A Future Farmers of America (FFA) building and barn

There are some new and exciting ventures on the horizon for our school district, and if you desire to see more of this type of information, please go to the Deer Park School District website at https://www.dpsd.org/facilities-maintenance/; scroll down until you see Facilities Planning Committee.

Most people only utilize the DPSD website when looking into their child’s grades or to retrieve an email address, but assuredly, many questions can be answered just by taking a couple minutes and a few clicks; there is a wealth of information at your fingertips.

 

 

Featured Sponsor
Thank You For Your Support!

Related Articles

Deadline Nears For Deer Park Post Office Relocation Input

After over half a century at its current location, the United States Postal Service is proposing two potential options for the Deer Park Post Office to address the growing community’s needs. In accordance with federal law, the Postal Service is inviting public input on the proposal before finalizing its decision. However, the opportunity for citizens to share their feedback is quickly coming to an end.

Read More »

Miss Deer Park 2025: Scholarships & Opportunities Await

Sophomore and junior high school girls are invited to join the 2025 Miss Deer Park Scholarship Program. This annual event, which has awarded over $48,000 in scholarships over the past three years, offers opportunities to represent the community, build confidence, and help fund college.

Read More »

WinterFest Honored Citizens 2025: The Watsons

Doug and Karen Watson, known for their decades of dedication to the Deer Park community through volunteerism and leadership, have been named the 2025 WinterFest Honored Citizens. This recognition acknowledges their significant contributions to preserving and enriching local traditions.

Read More »

WinterFest 2025: A Little Over A Week Away

Deer Park’s WinterFest 2025 is fast approaching, with just over a week to go! The reveal of the official logo and the announcement of this year’s honored citizens have set the tone for an exciting event. Don’t forget that sign-ups are now open!

Read More »

A Winter’s Gift: Gives More Than It Receives

Homelink Drama II presented “A Winter’s Gift.” The production brought Christmas joy and the spirit of giving to the Ken Fischer Theater. The cast filled the stage with monks, minstrels, mayhem, and mistaken identities; this play was truly a gift to the community.

Read More »

Tonight: Santa Rides Again

A change in Deer Park’s holiday tradition isn’t stopping Santa, who will bring joy to families with two special events: a festive street route through town and a cozy open house at Station 41, offering something for everyone to enjoy this season.

Read More »

Share this!

Featured Sponsor
Thank You For Your Support!

Share this!

Featured Sponsor
Thank You For Your Support!

Read more news.

Deadline Nears For Deer Park Post Office Relocation Input

After over half a century at its current location, the United States Postal Service is proposing two potential options for the Deer Park Post Office to address the growing community’s needs. In accordance with federal law, the Postal Service is inviting public input on the proposal before finalizing its decision. However, the opportunity for citizens to share their feedback is quickly coming to an end.

Read More »

Miss Deer Park 2025: Scholarships & Opportunities Await

Sophomore and junior high school girls are invited to join the 2025 Miss Deer Park Scholarship Program. This annual event, which has awarded over $48,000 in scholarships over the past three years, offers opportunities to represent the community, build confidence, and help fund college.

Read More »

Subscribe to our emails

Use the form below to sign up to receive news via email at no cost to you.

Read & Support The

Local news to keep you informed and entertained. The Deer Park Gazette is locally owned and operated. When you support the Deer Park Gazette, you support local writers and photographers.