Westside Community Schools

[Coyote]

Westside district residents asked to consider $121 million school bond



With the high cost of repairs, sometimes it’s just better to buy new -- or in Westside Community Schools’ case, to build new. “The infamous tornado of 1975 came right through Westgate and destroyed it. And believe it or not, Westgate was reconstructed in that summer in 80 days,” said Superintendent Dr. Mike Lucas. That quick rebuild left some things to be desired, he said. “In working with professionals in the industry, we learned that when renovations cost comes to 80% or more of what new construction costs are, the recommendations should be new,” said Lucas.

In a tour with 6 News, he showed some of the problems with the design of the Westgate building proposed to be rebuilt. “The only way to get to this classroom is to go through that classroom,” said Lucas. “We don’t have the shared learning spaces, the flexible learning spaces,” he said. And a “gym-auditorium” model seen in Westgate and other district schools makes scheduling lunch and gym difficult. “The same place where you have waffle sticks and syrup for lunch for first graders, an hour later becomes where you’re trying to teach fifth graders the tumbling unit.”

After the school board approved the Phase 2 master plan advancement, the district is asking voters to weigh in. The plan includes rebuilding Westgate, Hillside, and Loveland Elementary schools. They’d renovate three other elementary schools and expand Westside Middle and High Schools. Phase 1, which included four new buildings, passed in 2014. “The district did a nice job of making sure the Phase 1 projects were done on time, on budget,” said Lucas. If approved, the bond would raise property taxes by about $49 for every $100,00 in home valuation. That means a home valued at $300,000 would pay about $150 extra per year to improve the schools across the district.

If residents want to take a look at one of the buildings that may be renovated or completely rebuilt, there are 25 opportunities for them to do so before the mail-in election. Those visits may be particularly helpful for voters without kids in the school system to see what they’d be voting on. Across the three zip codes Westside schools are in, about one in five people are 65 and over, according to data from the American Community Survey. “Adding $50 more…We’re both retired here, so we’re working on a fixed income. So that’ll be a problem,” said Jose Montalvo. “It really doesn’t affect me because I don’t have any young children in school. I mean I can appreciate my neighbors because they do. But I, myself, I’d probably vote against that,” said Kathleen Distefano. Montalvo said that he would consider taking one of those informational tours before the vote. “I’d have to give that some thought,” he said. Voters have until May 9 to make their decision, when a mail-in election will take place.

[Coyote]

What's included in Westside High School's $34 million project



"It was very shocking because, I mean, I was expecting something like big and cool but it was like extremely different and so cool," said Berkley Gemar, a freshman on the Westside High School swim team. That’s how Gemar says she reacted to the pool's new look.

"I have been swimming here for years, because I do club in this pool too, so I think it will be a really cool like new experience" Gemar said. Westside has a well-known swim program, and this pool has been its home since it was built in the 1960s. Head coach Andy Rider said the renovations will impact more than just the swim team.

[Brad]

Pool Demo Update Photo:

[S.O.Boy]

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[HuskerGal33]

District 66 is building a whole new Hillside Elementary just to the north of the existing school. They will be in the current school until the new one is ready - approximately the beginning of 2025.

[Busguy2010]

District 66 is building a whole new Hillside Elementary just to the north of the existing school. They will be in the current school until the new one is ready - approximately the beginning of 2025.

That was my elementary school. I thought it was pretty cool they had all that land, seemingly set aside for this purpose. It's the only elementary school rebuild In district 66 that doesn't displace the students. It'd be interesting to be a 5th grader during the upcoming school year, having spent all that time there, to watch the new one being built and actually attending the new one the year after.

I wonder if there's any documents out there as to how it'll look.

[Brad]

District 66 is building a whole new Hillside Elementary just to the north of the existing school. They will be in the current school until the new one is ready - approximately the beginning of 2025.

That was my elementary school. I thought it was pretty cool they had all that land, seemingly set aside for this purpose. It's the only elementary school rebuild In district 66 that doesn't displace the students. It'd be interesting to be a 5th grader during the upcoming school year, having spent all that time there, to watch the new one being built and actually attending the new one the year after.

I wonder if there's any documents out there as to how it'll look.

This is not correct. Sunset Hills also built a new school next to the old school and then demolished the old school after the new school was completed.

[Busguy2010]

Meh, still most of em were torn down and rebuilt on site.

[Brad]

Meh, still most of em were torn down and rebuilt on site.

I believe the new Loveland Elementary will be constructed before the old building is demolished. District 66 purchased the 5 houses on the back of the block and now own the entire block.

According to the building permit, it seems like Westgate will also be built before the old building is demolished.

Westgate Elementary School - 59278 SF - Original Description: Construction of new Elementary school followed by demolition of old school

[S.O.Boy]

District 66 is building a whole new Hillside Elementary just to the north of the existing school. They will be in the current school until the new one is ready - approximately the beginning of 2025.

Judging by the foundation, it is an addition.

[Brad]

District 66 is building a whole new Hillside Elementary just to the north of the existing school. They will be in the current school until the new one is ready - approximately the beginning of 2025.

Judging by the foundation, it is an addition.

No, it will be all new. Here are the renderings, looks nice:

https://www.westside66.org/cms/lib/NE50 ... tation.pdf

Current Photo:

Hillside Elementary.jpeg

[Busguy2010]

Hmm, it kind of looks like a prison to me. In any case, even as a kid I had a few classrooms facing that big open field to the north and thought it'd be a good place for a new school. Turned out I was right.

Thanks for the photo. Looks like they dug out the steep hill we always used for dangerous stunts during biking, skiing and sledding. I have lots of memories on that hill. I remember there was a bump about 2/3 the way down and I'd get some serious air time. Surprised I never broke any bones.

[nebugeater]

Surprised I never broke any bones.

Sounds like maybe you were not trying hard enough!

[Busguy2010]

Surprised I never broke any bones.

Sounds like maybe you were not trying hard enough!

Oh we definitely were. In the winter time we'd even build the bump up an extra 3 feet or so into a ramp. Hard to say how much air we got cause we were like 8-12yrs old, but as I recall it, it was pretty exhilarating. It was a good hill for all that.

We also built some pretty elaborate stick forts in the woods at the top. Good memories.

[Brad]

Westside Swimming Pool Photo Update.

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[Brad]

Loveland Elementary work is under way.

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