New school in New Hamburg safer, more secure

A brand-new school building in New Hamburg opened its doors this week, around the bend from the former facility, leaving behind both structural problems and sentimental regard for a building generations of students had attended.

The Kelso School District�s new building at 820 Route A will house pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade classes in a 21,000-square-feet facility engineered for 21st century learning, completed within budget, according to a release from superintendent Kimberly Burger.

The rooms for first through eighth grades are laid out in a modern, classroom pod concept, with room on the property for future expansion.

The new school for the Kelso School District is seen Wednesday in New Hamburg, Missouri.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Administrative offices, a multipurpose room, kitchen, library, teacher resource rooms and team rooms also are incorporated into the design, the release stated.

A gymnasium is planned in a future expansion, but in the meantime, the multipurpose room will stand in for assemblies and recreation activities, as well as lunches.

The library and team rooms are centrally located, allowing for more learning and projects outside the classroom, and more collaboration, according to the release.

Charlotte Steinley, left, plays with Owen Andrews, 5, center, and Mabrey Burger, 4, during the first day of classes in the new Kelso school Wednesday in New Hamburg, Missouri.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

The school�s design included several safety and security features, as well.

Security features include lockdown capabilities and security cameras, according to the release.

Two storm shelters are built into the school, and a fire alarm system in the building would immediately notify the local fire department in case of emergency.

Classes were suspended for about a week, with Feb. 16 the final day in the old building, Burger said by phone Friday. Classes resumed Wednesday.

Burger said she�d built several extra vacation days into the calendar to accommodate the move, so students didn�t lose any instructional time.

The new building replaces an 80-year-old structure across the street from St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg, at 1016 Route A.

That school originally was built in 1938 as St. Lawrence Catholic School and in 1969 became the Kelso School District.

Superintendent Burger has been with the district about 15 years, she said, first as a teacher, then four years ago, she stepped into the superintendent role.

In those four years, enrollment grew from about 80 students to about 130.

That growth combined with structural issues in the former building underscored the need for a new school.

Burger said the old building had an issue in 2016 where a wall in the cafeteria shifted, and classrooms had to be moved into the nearby parish center and rectory while temporary fixes were made.

A bond issue passed in 2016 generated about $3.3 million toward the school�s construction, Burger said, and additional money from the capital projects fund brought the total funds to about $4.4 million, Burger said.

�We�re within that range,� Burger added.

The project hasn�t been without its small delays and setbacks, Burger said, but the team of architect, engineers, contractors and sub-contractors all worked together very well.

�We made sure we did the right thing and made good choices with taxpayer money,� Burger said.

Some site work still needs to be completed, she said. Final grading, grass seeding, parking lot pavement and the pre-kindergarten play area are not finished, but, according to the release, should be completed by early spring.

Burger said the weather factored in to delays in paving the parking lot, but �once it warms up, we can finish that.�

And, at the end of this process, �we have a quality school with a positive, healthy learning environment,� Burger said.

The nostalgia factor was evident during the open house held at the school this past week, Burger said.

�There are so many stories, grandpas and grandmas who attended the old school,� Burger said. �We even had a great-grandma come through just to see the new building.

�There�s so much tradition in it,� she continued. �I know it�s a very bittersweet process for a lot of people because the 1016 location, there are a lot of memories.�

Burger is so grateful for the community�s support and generosity, she said.

�I really can�t thank everybody enough. One of the really great things about where I get to work everyday is the people. They always come together, rally behind our school, from voting �yes� [on the bond issue] to moving to the open house,� Burger said, adding the move, estimated to take four days, took just two with all of the volunteers who showed up with food or helping hands.

�It�s a blessing to be involved with the Kelso C-7 family,� Burger said.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

820 Route A, New Hamburg, Mo.

1016 Route A, New Hamburg, Mo.