LITTLE CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – For some kids in Little Chute, back to school hasn’t even started.
When Little Chute students of all ages go back to class, the hallways will look much different.
It has a whole new look, feel and mission.
“We’re turning this more into a junior college and tech school environment for students in grades 5-12,” said Little Chute District administrator, David Botz.
BOTZ tells FOX 11 the layout will help students adjust to college, promoting collaboration, community, and creativity.
“We had 2 libraries, 2 offices, a lot of duplication, so what we’ve done is we combined a lot. So, now we have one library that’s going to serve students 5th grade through 12th. We have one shared office that serves our community.”
In the new library, Botz said students are allowed to be noisy. Students can talk with each other and learn by working together.
The old library? Botz says it’s transformed into the math wing.
“These windows are always open, won’t be blinded, there won’t be anything that separates our students and where they’re at.”
The Flex Academy public charter school is also moving into the new facility from the Little Chute Civic Center.
It serves kids from kindergarten to 8th grade.
“We wanted to increase our number to 100, which is where we’re at, and the other place didn’t have the room for us. The kids that had been at the Flex are just going to be blown away,” said Flex Academy teacher, Jennifer McDermot.
With new additions to the school, Botz told FOX 11, there are concerns about traffic congestion.
“That’s an issue we’re still ironing out. We’re working with the local police department, police school liaison officer is giving inputs, we still have parking lot we want to design.”
More people are also expected to use the fitness room, which quadrupled its capacity.
“Before we only had four double-sided half racks, now we have 10 double sided half racks,” said activities director, Kelly Wallace.
With 2.5 years in the making, school leaders can’t wait til that school bell rings on Monday.
“I think we hit it right in the head,” said Botz.
To make up for the late start, Little Chute’s summer break will be a week later than normal this year.
Money for the renovations was approved by a vote in April of last year.
