Pictured above: An artist's rendering shows what the outside of the junior high gym portion of the school will look like once the expansion project is complete.
MONROEVILLE, IN: A major new construction project is soon to begin at Heritage, this time in the area of the junior high gym, on the Monroeville Road side of the school.
According to Athletic Director, Mr. Tim Burton, “There’s going to be a brand new front on the junior high with all new windows. They’re going to put in great big restrooms for the junior high, and instead of fans having to walk across the gym floor to get to the bleachers, there will be a hallway with locker rooms and a concession stand. They’re also turning the current locker rooms into a kind of official’s office.”
That project is set to begin in December of 2023, as early as Friday, Dec. 8, and it is projected to take about 6-8 months to complete, meaning that construction should be complete during the summer of 2024.
Once the construction begins, the sidewalk near the junior high gym, the current junior high gym entrance (Door 30), and a portion of the staff parking lot will be blocked off for construction traffic.
CARPOOL CHANGE:
This will necessitate a change for the junior high and high school carpool line. During construction, students who are car-riders will enter and exit the building before and after school through Door 31, which is just down the sidewalk to the east of Door 30. Cars which are dropping off or picking up students will still enter and exit through the staff parking lot off of Monroeville Road.
The expansion will occur in this area of the building, causing this portion of the staff parking lot (seen in the picture), the sidewalk, and the current JH gym entrance (door 30) to be blocked off.
OTHER RECENT BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS:
Other renovations around the school were also completed over summer break of 2023 to improve both the comfort and safety of the school.
The restrooms next to the school’s main entrance, just off of the lobby, received an upgrade, including fresh white paint and new lighting to make it appear cleaner and brighter.
“The pure selfie quality-amazing,” said main office secretary, Mrs. Bulmahn.
“I think the bathrooms are super inviting and clean-looking,” said Alexis Fischbach, a freshman.
Principal, Mrs. Becky Christensen was passionate about making sure all students felt welcome and comfortable. She said, “The improved bathrooms make students feel more welcome because not having a clean bathroom makes students feel unwanted.”
Also at the school’s main entrance, the doors were all replaced over the summer. Along with aesthetic improvement, this renovation was also an improvement for the building’s safety.
Burton said, “The new doors bring the light in, which brightens up the school, and the doors are safer.” While the previous doors were more prone to shattering, the new ones are improved and stronger.
Along with the new doors, the administration also made changes this year with how people are able to enter the building throughout the day. In the past, students who arrived at school later in the day, such as tardy, ICE, OSI, and career center students, were able to enter door 13, which is on the south end of the building facing the football field. Now, all people, including those late-arriving students, enter the building through the main entrance.
Officer Finley stated, “The renovations were a great idea because it allows for entrance through just one door, instead of multiple doors. It’s easier for us to keep track of who’s coming and going.”
HERITAGE APPRAOCHING 60 YEARS OLD:
With Heritage’s original construction being completed in 1968, the core of the building is about 56 years old, and updates continue to keep the building in comfortable working order. The junior high was added in 1977, and the elementary school and the high school science wing were added in 2014. So now, the school is set to take on its third major construction upgrade as it nears 60 years in existence.