LSH is new and improved

Le Sueur-Henderson residents eager to experience new school surroundings

By Nick Hanson

LE SUEUR — The Le Sueur-Henderson High School addition and renovation was not an easy sell.

Taxpayers from the consolidated school district approved the $18.6 million project by a slight margin of nine votes in May 2005.

When it opens this September, however, the about 5,250 residents from both towns will see why the multi-million dollar project will pay off, said Kevin Enerson, LSH middle and high school principal.

“This brings the facility up to the 21st century,” he said. “We’re going to be improving education.”

The 7-12 high school in Le Sueur first opened its doors nearly 40 years ago, in 1968. It has seen few improvements since.

Planning for the 74,000-square-foot addition and renovation to the old portion of the building began in 2001. It should offer plenty of reason for students and educators to get excited.

A few highlights:

n There will be a new media center, auditorium, gymnasium, locker rooms, band and choir practice spaces, and an expanded commons/cafeteria area.

n In the old part of the building classrooms are being remodeled, science labs are being moved and outfitted with new equipment, and the middle and high school classrooms will be relocated to more separate areas of the building.

n Outside there will be about 200 more parking spots (enough so students will no longer have to park on neighboring streets), more sporting fields, tennis courts and a new road for easier access to the school.

Enerson said the improvements are more necessity than luxury.

“We needed it,” he said. “It’s exciting to have a facility that is functional. People shop around (for schools). It gives the message that the community cares about education.”

As part of the construction project, sixth-graders will move into the building from Park Elementary across town. That’s about 100 more kids, which will bring total enrollment at the soon-to-be 6-12 school up to about 750. Capacity will be about 900 — alleviating any space problems the district may have.

The renovation also means less sharing between Park Elementary and the high school. With another gym, students won’t have to travel to Park as often for after-school sporting activities. And a new performing arts area means activities such as theater practice won’t have to be scheduled at Park auditorium.

“It’s convenient for everybody,” Enerson said. “We won’t take away their space.”

Construction has gone smoothly so far. The project is on schedule and bids are coming in close to where the district projected, Supt. Dave Johnson said.

To allow construction workers enough time to finish renovations in the old portion of the high school, students will get out three weeks earlier than usual. Students won’t lose quite that many days of instruction because the district scheduled fewer vacations and teachers used nights and weekends for workshop, prep and training time.

A shorter school year isn’t ideal, Johnson said, but it’ll be worth it for students in the long run because the improvements will move the LSH educational bar up a notch.

“Every program and every space is being improved,” he said. “It’s just necessary for us to provide for the kids and help them a world that’s really changing.”