Building Project News

In a just a little over three weeks, classes will begin at the new Morton Middle School! Students will return from winter break on January 2 to new classrooms, new technology, and a much brighter environment. See photos from the building here.

In the next few weeks, finishing touches will be applied to the school. Floors have already been waxed to a high shine, furniture is being moved in, and staff has been receiving training on new HVAC and kitchen equipment. Students will tour the building during the week of December 12 to find their new classrooms and lockers. Moving day for classrooms will begin with the first day of winter break on December 19.

A farewell open house for the old Morton will be held on December 11 from 2 - 4 p.m. The building will be fenced off on December 19 and decommissioning will follow soon after. Abatement will begin after the first of the year, and demolition should start in mid-February. Bricks will be available to the public free of charge after demolition begins.

The old Morton holds many, many fond memories for countless people, but the new building will be a much stronger investment of taxpayer dollars. In addition to providing students with enough space for classrooms, it includes many energy efficient features to help keep long-term utility costs in check.

Work continues at full speed at the new Morton Middle School site.

Most of the exterior brick work is done, and workers are concentrated on the interior. Data and telephone lines are being strung, gypboard is going up, walls are being painted, and much, much more! Although much work yet remains, small little details are beginning to emerge that hint at the finished product: basketball hoops are installed in the gym, ceiling grids are being installed, and the building's more interesting architectural features are starting to take shape. It's an exciting time for the district!

Work has also started on the maintenance facility/bus garage. This building will be located to the northwest of the new Morton Middle School.

To see recent photos, click here.

There's a hard push at Butler to get everything ready for students and teachers.  Furniture is arriving, floors are being waxed, and equipment is being checked and rechecked. Work continues as well on the renovations to the 1964 wing. The school is shaping up to be a true community gem, with interior spaces that promise to be breathtaking. Click here to see some of the latest photos.

As soon as school let out for the summer, construction crews mobilized on the 1964 wing. The classrooms have been stripped down to the walls, the windows have been replaced, and the two classrooms in the northwest corner of the wing are being transformed into the lecture room. New ceiling and floor tiles, paint, casework and lighting will follow.

Progress continues in other parts of the building, with some real jewels beginning to emerge. As the media center's curtain wall is installed, the impressive nature of this space is rapidly taking form. The same holds true for the life skills area, where kitchens are being installed, and the science classrooms, where casework is going in.

City crews have also been working on installing the new traffic light masts at Elva Court. The student drive will align with Elva Court, a move that will improve traffic flow and safety during peak times.

To see photos of the progress, click here.

Before Vandalia Elementary was demolished, masons painstakingly removed the two marble dedication plaques at the building's entrance. They also removed the stone that was engraved with "Butler Elementary School" above the building's south gymnasium entrance. Behind this stone they found an unexpected treasure: a message in a bottle!

Sealed inside a Coca-Cola bottle (manufactured in 1943 in Dayton, by the way) was a yellowed piece of lined paper. The paper was extracted at the June 14 Board of Education meeting, revealing the names and addresses of Conrad G. Kreitzer and Everett R. Dailey. The paper is dated February 3, 1944. The search is on to find who these two gentlemen were.

The district has kept the stone "Butler Elementary School" sign, but the Historical Society of Vandalia-Butler has taken possession of the dedication plaques. They will be displayed in the Butler Elementary School exhibit at the Brown School House in the future.