Construction on the new $39 million Fort Riley Middle School being built on post is progressing quite well and is on schedule to be open by the time the 2014-2015 school year starts in August.

William ‘Bill’ Clark, USD 475 Director of Business Operations explained that currently as you walk through the school you will see it in multiple stages of construction.

“You would see a lot of the different wings in different stages of completion based upon where they are at in the master plan. You will actually see one wing that is basically done right now, it’s already up and operational. You’ll see another wing that’s just about done.”

Work on the 800 seat auditorium is taking shape and a storm shelter that will house the wrestling and fitness room is also taking shape.

The new school will be nearly double the size of the current school.

“The capacity is designed to hold up to 800 students which is a significant increase from the current one, it almost actually doubles it in capacity. I think the current one was designed to hold up to 455,” Clark said.

Eighty percent of the $39 million price tag is being paid for through Congress appropriated funds through the office of economic adjustment with a twenty percent local match.

“You get a $39 million plus school for a little less than $8 million of local money is a very good deal, and it’s the same program that’s helping to fund the new Fort Riley Elementary School that begins construction later next month as well,” Clark explained.

In total the school will have 64 classrooms, an 800 seat main gym and an auxiliary gym with an additional 233 seats. It will also have a vocal music, band and orchestra room.

Demolition of the current school is scheduled to begin in June and will take approximately three weeks to tear down and clear the site. A new parking lot and football and track field will go in that location. Completion of the project is scheduled for sometime in October.

Photos Courtesy of First Infantry Division Public Affairs Office and Geary USD 475.