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Ribbon Cutting for New West Wendover Elementary School

Post Date:10/12/2016 11:03 AM

OveralFaclityPic Elko County School District (ECSD) held their Board Meeting at the West Wendover High School on Tuesday, October 11^th. At the meeting, they discussed and then approved to proceed with biding for the remodel/renovation of the existing Elementary School into a Middle School. The estimate from Design West, the architects who also completed the design on the new Elementary School, places the work at just about $7 million. Once bids are received later this Fall, the Board will then make a decision on award and pending that award should be able to begin work this winter once the Elementary Students are moved into the new Elementary School. That move is scheduled for this December.

Additionally, ECSD held a ribbon cutting and transferring of the keys for the new West Wendover Elementary School. ECSD Superintendent Jeff Zander indicated that this new facility is considered the top of the line facility for ECSD and that the District has not constructed an Elementary School of this size and scope (two-story with a full size elementary gymnasium, multi-purpose room and kitchen) since 1926. He remarked that ECSD is very happy with the facility and that he hoped the community would be very proud of it as well. This particular type of design is to be the basis going forward for other Elementary Schools in the District.

Mayor Carter remarked, “It was a great honor to be present and witness this ribbon cutting and ‘transferring of the keys’ ceremony for the new West Wendover Elementary School. The new school is to say the least, beautiful. It is going to be a wonderful asset in our community and one that will provide education and opportunity for generations to come. This is the type of progress that we as elected officials work hard to make happen, so I’m very proud of it and I want to thank the Elko County School District for making this important educational investment in the community.”

The ribbon cutting event included the singing of the National Anthem by Karina Kleinschmidt along with Tristen Valadez-Ruiz leading the teachers, staff and dignitaries who were present in the Pledge of Allegiance. Principal Patrick DiSpirito then made some brief comments on the importance of the facility to the future of education in West Wendover and then turned over the time to Superintendent Jeff Zander, Board President Thad Ballard, Board Clerk Dan Mahlberg and Members John Karr and Lou Basanaz who then cut the ribbon.

After the ribbon cutting was completed, Vice Principal Brenda Carter then reviewed for everyone the various items that were going to be placed in the new School’s time capsule. They included a letter from Mayor Emily Carter along with a Wendover Will silver medallion and a picture book and challenge coin from Governor Brian Sandoval. Additionally there was a book about the history of Wendover and class photos from all the classes that would be moving into the new facility. The time capsule was then sealed and locked and then placed in the new School lobby wall along with the dedication plaque. A few generations from now, hopefully someone remembers to check it out. :-)

The City would like to express its sincere thanks to Superintendent Jeff Zander, and the entire ECSD Board lead by Board President Thad Ballard for fulfilling their promise to the community several years ago when the project planning/design began. We were told as a community that this would be a facility all could be proud of and that there would be no corner cutting in its design or construction; that it would be a premier facility for the entire District; they did just that, and we are very proud to have such a facility in our community. Thank you.

An official Public Open House is scheduled for sometime in late November where the public, parents and students will be able to tour the new School once it is completely outfitted with desks, chairs, etc. So stay tuned for that announcement!

Below are pictures from the event.