Technology and student security built into school
The gymnasium, which holds about 800 people in the pull-out stands, was designed with acoustic panels so that the band and choir may perform there for the public.
ROYAL CITY - When Royal's fourth, fifth and sixth graders return to school this fall, they will find themselves in a brand new building known as the Royal Intermediate School.
"A committee was formed to recommend three names to the board," Business Manager David Andra said. "The committee and the board preferred Royal Intermediate School."
Superintendent Rose Search refers to the new school as David Andra's baby. She noted he has been the point man for the district from conception through construction.
Andra was there for the planning, the design and the architectural work. And he's been there through the construction, getting his shoes dusty or muddy. He said recently the school is much different than the first concept.
The school is shaped like a capital H. The main entrance leads to the cross bar in the H, which is a hallway the width of the school. Along that cross bar on both sides are administrative offices and universal rooms such as the library, the band room, the kitchen and the student health room.
The arms and legs of the H are the gymnasium and three classroom pods. The new fifth grade pod is the old 5th grade pod that used to stand alone.
Although 4th, 5th and 6th graders will attend school in the same building, they will hardly be mixed. Each grade has a pod of six classrooms, and each grade will take its lunch separate from the others.
The school will have 20 classrooms total, adding 14 to the existing six. There will be a computer lab, a library, a special education room and a music room.
According to Andra, the buiding will accommodate 500-550 students. About 400 are expected the first year this fall.
Security was a major factor in the planning and design. Doors will be controlled with electronic locks.
"The entire building can be locked down with the push of a single button," Andra said. "During the school day, all visitors will enter through a vestibule and will need to be buzzed into the building."
Technology was another major factor in the planning, Andra said. Each classroom is equipped with an interactive projector, Ipad, document camera, computer, and speakers.
Instead of traditional student computers, each classroom will have several Chromebook laptops, and each grade level will have an entire cart of 32 Chromebook laptops.
The gymnasium is large enough to host high school varsity practice and will be used for a variety of games. For PE there can be two side-by-side hoops courts.
"This will help reduce the number of late night and early morning practices that often happen during the winter," Andra said.
Visitors for games and other special events will be directed from the parking areas to the space between the arms of the H. It leads to a special event entrance located near the gymnasium.
"This allows for events to have access to the gym and cafeteria area while the rest of the school remains secure," Andra said.
Although the new school will open the first day of school in the fall, not all of the work will be finished. Crews will still be landscaping as students study.
"Construction has gone extremely well," Andra said. "Most of the classrooms are nearly complete, with most of the focus now on the site work. Paving of sidewalks and curbs will be happening in the next few weeks."
The school's new phone number will be 509-346-2226. Linda Achondo, formerly an assistant principal at Red Rock Elementary School, will be the principal at Royal Intermediate.