WP step closer to starting its school addition

The building materials for Wauneta-Palisade’s addition have been delivered, leaving administrators waiting to hear from BD Construction of Kearney for a start date.
Superintendent Randy Geier wasn’t comfortable offering a timeline, saying there’s a lot of moving parts that go into the project.
“There’s a lot of what if,” he said.
The addition, which will sit east of the school in the current parking lot, will include a multipurpose gym, an extended commons area and a cafeteria. North Shawnee Avenue along the east side of the school will be closed.
As the addition goes up, renovation work will be going on inside the current Wauneta Attendance Center. Among the work will be bringing the building up to ADA standards.
Once completed, all WP students will attend school in Wauneta.
No additional funds are needed for the $8.4 million project cost. The school has the cash reserves, Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking funding and a lease purchase agreement in place to pay for the work.
Geier said the school worked with insurance people and structural engineers to try to keep the Palisade Attendance Center open, but the engineers wouldn’t sign off on the building.
The Wauneta Attendance Center is structurally sound, he said.
As the school saved for the project, Geier said tax askings went down for six straight years. This year’s 2% increase in tax askings is going toward operational expenses.
WP’s staff is excited, Geier said, and willing to be flexible when the renovations begin.
Geier also complimented the school’s custodial staff.
“They’ve been doing everything they can with what they have,” he said.
The Palisade Attendance Center is a 100-year old building, he continued.
“We can’t change that,” Geier said.