Themottoat PragueHigh School at the moment is rigidly flexible.
The school is currently in Phase 2 of the construction of a new high school. Phase 1 has been completed, but things are a bit cramped as they make use of the new wing until the second phase is completed.
“That’s the name of our game, rigidly flexible,” said Principal Jerelyn Atchinson, while guiding a quick tour of the building and greeting students at the same time. “That’s longterm going to be a special ed room, but we’re using it as the FACS room.”
Eventually, the walls of the new building will have murals, and they are looking to add more seating in some parts of the halls, Atchinson said. Cameras were in the process of being installed on Aug. 26.
The building includes a large, new science lab as well as a new art room and library. The second phase will include administration offices -- currently, Atchinson shares what will be a classroom with the high school secretary and the teacher’s lounge.
The FUSE building will eventually become the new AG classroom, bringing it closer to the high school, and they will be building another AG classroom to the south of that. To the west of that, there will be a connected shop building. The new wing will also include more classrooms, such as the FACS room, and another computer lab.
Some of the things that they are most proud of as a district, said School Board President Jarrod VanZant, is adding special education back to the high school building. Once the new wing is complete, they will be able to reintegrate that class with gen ed students.
Atchinson said currently special education students are being housed at the middle school and have to travel over to the high school. But once they are back in the building, they will have what is called a transition classroom.
“It’s just helping them get ready for life. It’s teaching them how to cook. It’s teaching them a lot of transition and hopefully… sell baked goods. They can have a little business that they can help run. And it teaches them how to communicate with people and be out in the community,” she said, adding that she’s very excited about that space.
VanZant said when he attended Prague Schools 30 years ago, the highlight from a social standpoint was the breezeway. That is going to be a general-use space where students can eat lunch, get together and the community will be able to access it if needed.
Superintendent James Payne said the contractor - Joe D Hall — has hit every mark and been a little ahead in some places with construction. They did get behind about two weeks over the summer with the demolition of the old building due to rain, but when it started coming down, it came down fast.
As of now, the new wing is set to be completed around December of 2027.
VanZant said the original plan was to remodel the existing building, but that changed with some fortunate circumstances.
“Due to some excellent planning and some fortunate political circumstances, interest rates ducked and costs came down in the national landscape, which allowed us to go back and do everything new,” he said.
VanZant added that with the dollars the community gave them and voted to pass, from then on, they’ve been consistently ahead of schedule, which he too credits most of to Joe D. Hall.
More than that, what the school board president appreciates most is that for the last several years, the Prague community has bought into the philosophy that someone has to begin to stock the wood pile so it can be burned in winter. While today’s seniors won’t get to experience the final finished building, they appreciate what future students will get to have.
“Prague is so committed to recognizing excellence, and the kids and our teachers have really bought into what is best for the next generation,” he said. “So for this group of seniors that will never see the full fruit, I’m excited that they get to see part of it.”