Eye on ECCS: Middle School Campus Upgrades

 

NOTE: Occasionally throughout the school year, we will visit a school across Eastern Carver County Schools. Some weeks the plan may be to stop in multiple classrooms by grade, or by subject. Other weeks it may highlight a certain specialist group. The purpose is to give families and our community a glimpse into the every-day learning environment happening in our buildings. A chance to spotlight the incredible work our teachers and staff do on a daily basis for our students, and to showcase the incredible work our students produce as well. So, keep your Eye on ECCS!

 

If you drove by the Chaska Middle School East and West buildings this summer, you likely witnessed a flurry of activity. Major projects at both schools, as well as repaving of the parking lots and roadway between buildings.  While not everything was ready to go by the start of this school year, the work in both buildings over the summer has students and staff excited.

A sign outside the Star Center at Chaska Middle School West proudly reads, “Yes! We’re open! Welcome back! The Star Center is open! Come on in!” Three weeks into the school year, the media center welcomed students again on Sept. 25.

“It was so fun seeing the kids’ faces this morning when they walked in and saw what the space looked like. I wish I had pictures of their faces. They were all so excited,” West media specialist Erinn Flowers said.

Phase I of a remodel at Chaska Middle School West is in the final stages of completion. Work began last spring, with crews starting in the lower level locker rooms, and continued throughout the summer. At the West Open House event in late August, workers were putting the final touches on projects throughout the building as students and families went from classroom to classroom learning their schedules.

"It is truly a top-to-bottom remodel. It's an example of a generational investment in a building that will serve our students for the next 50 years," Jim Muenzenmeyer, director of buildings and grounds for the district, said of the middle school projects. Chaska Middle School East is in the final stages of its two-year construction remodel.

New flooring, lighting, ceiling in hallways and common spaces, lockers, interior doors, and room signage are just a portion of the upgrades at both East and West. Upgrades to pool equipment at East as well as updates to HVAC and building roofs were also part of the projects.

West Middle School Principal Alicia Fischer and Assistant Principal Mark Shoquist each had a hand in what the final product would look like. Fischer took on the visual part of the product, prioritizing current school branding to create a consistent identity. Shoquist took on the functionality of each space, the logistics of the project.

“It’s a work-in-progress. There are crews here each night working after the school day is over. Things are on backorder. There are things that still need to be completed, but we’re already moving into Phase II for next summer,” Fischer said.

The second phase is on the west end of the building along with the school cafeteria. 

“It may feel like more of the footprint of the building was worked on this summer, but next summer’s projects are a heavier lift,” Fischer said. An additional project in Phase II is the reconfiguration of the center-based learning area. “It will be a true center-based setting for those students.”

Classrooms received new modern flooring and cabinetry. Hallways are brighter with new lockers lining the main arteries. Bathrooms were redone. The locker rooms were completely gutted and revamped. Push-pin friendly fabric wall covering above student lockers will be installed soon, allowing for student work to be displayed.

While the cafeteria project is in Phase II, new tables have arrived, including a row of restaurant-style booths and chairs that have been wildly popular, Fischer said.

“All building staff were affected; every room needed to be packed up and emptied before the work could start,” Muenzenmeyer said of the project thus far at both schools. “Hundreds of skilled workers completed the work, often in a very hot environment as no air conditioning was available. The summer of 2023 was especially very hot and took its toll on productivity. This summer we survived a two week plumbers strike and needed every hour left to complete the work.  The schools’ admin staff were amazing in their help and set the bar high for the other school projects yet to come. Many workers, including ECCS custodial staff, worked the entire Labor Day weekend (Labor Day too!) to pull this off.”

NEW VIBE TO SCHOOL

The interior of Chaska Middle School East might not look recognizable to some after two summers of construction. The first phase focused on the second floor and pool and gymnasium area. This summer it was all about the commons area, first floor space, the main office, and cafeteria.

While the finishing touches on many of the projects are not complete, the look and feel at East certainly has a new vibe.

“(Crews) are in here every chance they can get when students aren’t to wrap things up. We are certainly excited about the new changes,” East Middle School Principal Dr. Greg Martin said.

Muenzenmeyer said as of Sept. 26, there is a 556-item punch list for this school. Although most of the items are individual paint touch-ups, there are a couple of mini projects that will be completed over the MEA weekend.

The most visible change at East comes in the commons area where new lockers were installed that will be available for student use starting Monday, Sept. 30. Student voice played a role in the redesign; Martin said feedback from students played an important part.

“They’re wider (by three inches). My backpack would not fit before. I would have to keep pushing it in to make it fit,” an East student said.

The commons area also serves as the lunchroom at East. New tables and flooring throughout the space are a welcome change for students and the custodial staff that keeps the area clean.

Students agree the upgrades to the commons area and cafeteria are a hit. 

Another large-scale project was the addition of two band box rooms inside the music center. Previously, there was one large room near the cafeteria. “It was hard for a teacher to monitor students in there and have a classroom of students in their room inside the center. Now they’re right by each other,” Martin said.

Other first-floor classrooms are seeing change. The Tech Ed room will be getting 3D printers this fall. The wood shop room had its equipment and work space realigned to best use the space. Single user bathrooms were added near these rooms as well.

“I have a sense of pride when I walk through East today. It has new energy, looks fantastic, and I know it will operate in a safe and efficient manner for years to come.  The Long Term Facilities Maintenance bond has been an incredible tool for us to renovate our schools. We started a two-phase project at CMSE in May of 2023 and reached substantial completion in September of 2024. Most of the work was related to mechanical, electrical and plumbing. These renovated critical systems will extend the life of the building by generations,” Muenzenmeyer said.

To learn more about the district’s Long Term Facilities Maintenance planning, past, present, and future, visit: https://www.district112.org/district/facility-maintenance-and-improvement.