MANKATO — Washington Elementary School’s youngest minds donned safety vests and hard hats Friday as they posed with shovels to celebrate the groundbreaking of their school’s secure entrance project.
The project is one of several safety and security upgrades the district is making to many of its schools after voters approved the $105 million bond question last fall.
A secure entrance is also in the works for Bridges Community School and Roosevelt Elementary School, which had ceremonies Friday as well.
Washington Principal Ann Haggerty said the time has come for the project to get started.
“This is about safety. Kids are our business, and this is about safety of kids,” she said. “We can build a space that’s not only safe but conducive to the work that we do each day.”
Having a secure entrance means anyone who comes into the school will have to go through the office to access the rest of the building.
“Parents send us their very best every day, and it’s our job to keep them safe. It’s also our job to teach them and all of those things, too, but safety is first. Safety is our priority, and we take that very seriously,” Haggerty said.
School Board Chair Shannon Sinning reflected on the groundbreaking from both the district’s perspective and as a parent.
“I’m also a parent of three. Everybody wants their kid to be safe when they’re at school and feel good about that drop-off. I still do the walk up to kindergarten and drop them off, and I think there’s nothing more valuable than feeling safe when you drop your kids off at school,” he said.
He added that some of the schools in the district already have secure entrances, and that this bond referendum was all about getting the rest of the schools up to that same level so they can be confident about every location.
“I think the main thing is the visual of, they have to go through the office to get into the actual school itself and talk to a person,” he said.
Supt. Paul Peterson said Friday was a big day for the school district but also for the community.
“I think that as we move forward with these construction projects, it really is a symbol of our community’s commitment to public education and investing in its future. We’re really excited to get these things going,” he said.
Construction at Washington is expected to begin as soon as school lets out for the summer and is expected to wrap up mid-August.
Construction at Bridges, meanwhile, is expected to start next week and wrap up mid-August.
Roosevelt construction started in April; its secure entrance is expected to be complete mid-August, and classroom and storm shelter upgrades are expected to be done in October.
Haggerty said the construction won’t interfere with summer programming such as ACES or summer lunch.
The groundbreaking for the Dakota Meadows Middle School project, which includes a secure entrance as well as a competition and community-use pool to replace the old swimming pool at West High School, is expected to take place later this month.