New Clear Creek Amana high school set for debut

In his 25 years as an educator, Tom McDonald never had a senior, days before graduation, wish for another year of school.

Until last spring.

“We had graduation in the new gymnasium,” said McDonald, Clear Creek Amana High School's principal. “When we brought the seniors to the new school for practice, they were impressed.”

Now it's the community's turn.

An open house for the new Clear Creek Amana High School in Tiffin will be held Sunday. A cornerstone laying ceremony will be held at 2 p.m., followed by the dedication and ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. Building tours will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

The 117,000 square feet school features 30 classrooms, including four science labs. There's also instrumental and vocal music classrooms with small group practice space, a media center with conference space, a competition size gymnasium, plus a separate mat room and fitness area.

The high school, with a price tag of $18 million, was paid for by the $25.5 million bond issue voters approved in February 2006.

The school was designed by Shive-Hattery, Inc. McComas-Lacina Construction was the contractor.

“I know our kids, just coming from an overcrowded building where we could hardly move, will love all this movable space,” McDonald said. “High-class movable space.”

The building has a 600 student capacity, with room to expand if necessary. The old high school, now Clear Creek Amana Middle School, has a 400 student capacity.

About 500 ninth through 12th grade students are enrolled for the 2009-10 school year.

“I really believe that, because of our beautiful facilities, our kids will walk in with greater pride, our staff will have greater pride, and student achievement will be higher because of that pride,” McDonald said. “We've always had pride, but it's hard not to walk in here and have more.”

“We are fortunate to live and work in an area of the country that values education and is willing to provide quality facilities,” Clear Creek Amana School District Superintendent Paula Vincent said. “It is our privilege to partner with families and community members to utilize these facilities in a way that provides ever improving learning outcomes for our students.”

The district held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new high school school July 31, 2007. Construction finished this summer, except for the auditorium, which is scheduled for completion in the spring.

Funding for the auditorium, budgeted at $8 million, is funded by SILO dollars.

Also new to the district this year is a sports complex featuring FieldTurf, a synthetic grass substitute, for football and soccer. The complex includes a new scoreboard and sound system, new bleachers with a press box, restrooms and an eight-lane all-weather track.

The complex cost about $5 million. It also was paid for by SILO funds.