Burlington, IA – Aldo Leopold Middle School made its debut at the start of the current school year.
That's one year after it was originally scheduled to open its doors to students. The late start was caused by construction delays and contractor issues.
Superintendent Jane Evans says the process has been much different with its new middle school. She says the building along Mason Road is on track to open for the 2012-2013 school year.
Evans says it will be nice to not have to rush things with construction scheduled to be wrapped up by May 2012.
"We are very excited that we are going to be able to move into a building that we have had all of the time to get the furniture in the right places," says Evans, "to make sure that all of the fine tuning is finished."
Evans says the new school's roof is in place. She says that will allow work to continue throughout the winter.
Evans says the district has also addressed issues that came up during the construction of Aldo Leopold Middle School. She says several examples are that lockers are being elevated and water fountains are being added.
Evans says the district will go back and do the same at Aldo Leopold.
The new middle school will replace James Madison Middle School.
New School Name
Meanwhile, the Burlington School Board could soon name the new middle school being built along Mason Road.
Evans says the naming committee's top two recommendations are James Madison and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Some alternate options are Arthur Hartman and Ed Stone.
Evans says Hartman was an aviations pioneer. She says Stone is a physics professor who was the lead scientist on the Voyager project.
A decision should be made on Monday, February 14th.