WARSAW — It has been a very active and exciting summer within Warsaw Community Schools. Within the last eight weeks, major renovation and new construction has taken place on multiple sites. The construction timelines have stayed on track and we fully plan, barring an unforeseen major setback, to open all schools on schedule Monday, Aug. 15.

Safety and security is our first priority. Collaboration with officials from the State of Indiana, City of Warsaw, fire marshal and local law enforcement have been and will continue to be involved to ensure a safe and secure start to the school year.

Washington Elementary has received a major facelift to the original section of the school. New safety and security features, fire safety upgrades, HVAC, roofing, flooring and wiring headline the renovations. A new section featuring additional classrooms, technology upgrades and a maker- space STEM lab provide updates to the educational learning environment. The school year is expected to start with only minor finishing work or infrastructure updates to non-essential areas still to be completed. Food service preparation will come from offsite WCS locations to provide proper installation of equipment during the first few weeks of classes.

Edgewood has also received major updates to the current structure and the addition of science and STEM areas. Edgewood was originally constructed as an open concept school without permanent walls. Walls are now in place along with safety, fire prevention, HVAC, roofing and technology upgrades. The school year will start, as planned, with a section of the building still going through construction. After school or weekend hours will be utilized for renovations that could impact the learning environment. Classrooms will be moved within the building to accommodate the needed space. Full completion of Edgewood is expected in late fall.

Lincoln is receiving a fully new building located next to the current location. The new Lincoln Elementary is on schedule to be completed in December 2016. The new construction of Lincoln will bring this school on par with the other seven elementary buildings in Warsaw Community Schools.

New traffic flow patterns have been designed in efforts to create greater efficiency at these three schools and also Harrison Elementary School in preparation for the future work on Husky Trail. Information on these changes will be in forthcoming communications from the individual schools.