WHS stau expected to move into new space this month
Nov. 4—WILLIMANTIC — Central office staff are expected to move into their new space at Windham High School by the end of the month, at the earliest.
Windham High School Renovate as New Building Committee Chairman Michael Callahan said the goal was for the move to occur in early November, but construction took longer than anticipated.
" We're close, but we're a little behind," he said.
The high school building, which is at 355 High St., was built in 1970.
The central office relocation is part of a large renovation of the high school building, a project designed to modernize the building as well as to use it more efficiently.
Taxpayers approved $ 112.3 million for the renovation during a referendum in Nov. 2017.
The state is reimbursing 95% of the eligible expenses on the project.
Work is being managed by Downes Construction.
Construction started in fall 2021 and is expected to take about three years.
" We still have a long way to go but it's nice to see tangible progress," Callahan said.
He said the parking lot and sidewalks and ramps in front of the building are finished.
Workers have also started to put down topsoil and seed.
Callahan said on Thursday that furniture needs to be moved into the central offices.
" It will take awhile to move the furniture in and do final preparation of the space," he said.
Callahan said there are approximately 30 staff members working at central office, which is currently at the high school. They will move to the south side of the school, where the pool used to be.
The offices will take up two floors of the building.
" The new layout of the central office space creates a positive work environment to provide all the necessary services for the members of the Windham Public Schools community," Windham Superintendent of Schools Tracy Youngberg said in an Oct. 26 memo to the board of education. " We are all very excited to be moving into our new, professional work environment."
Callahan said the central office space was a "challenging" space to construct.
" They had to fill in the old pool," he said.
Callahan said the space was "one big open space" and a structure had to be added to create a second story.
" If it was a classroom, it would have been much easier," he said.
Callahan said a handicapped lift was also added.
Staff will have a nice view in the new space, with large windows that look east over the athletic fields The offices will be structured so that the most visited offices are on the first floor.
There will be a reception/ waiting area at the main entrance.
The second floor has a large conference room on
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