Silver Creek High School opens two-story addition | News | newsandtribune.com

SELLERSBURG — Silver Creek High School has opened its new two-story addition to students.

After about a year of construction, the 71,000-square-foot addition is complete at the Silver Creek school, and students were welcomed into the space Monday.

“This upgraded facility, we believe, matches the quality of education that takes place within it,” Silver Creek Superintendent Chad Briggs said.

The space has new classrooms/labs, a new main entry area, new administrative offices, a new student union and an expanded cafeteria.

The school is now turning to renovations on other areas of the building, which will cover about 121,000 square feet.

Construction is ongoing in the performing arts area. The 21,000-square-foot addition, projected to open in January or February 2025, will include a new auditorium and band room.

Briggs said the reaction has been positive as students, teachers and staff use the new space.

“It’s kind of nice watching the kids walk in and just kind of looking around,” he said.

It has been a long process getting to this point, Briggs said.

“The need has been here for several years, and so it’s a great positive step in the right direction as far as making sure our facilities are first-class,” he said.

The “growing pains” continue as the renovations occur in the other parts of the building, he said.

Briggs said he is “very grateful “ for the patience and work that went into the construction project.

“This is a long time coming, and we still have a lot of work to do,” he said.

Silver Creek High School Principal Rob Willman said the school is “very fortunate” to have the upgraded space.

There has been “a lot of excitement” and “a lot of smiles” as people see the new space, he said.

“I always kind of think that architecture can either inspire people or demean people, and I think when you come in here, you’re inspired with the high ceilings, the light, the new stuff, the open spaces,” Willman said.

He notes that the addition includes many spots for students to gather in small groups, including the student union and media center.

The new cafeteria is not completely finished, but it will offer more students with fewer lunch times.

School safety has been a major focus, Willman said.

“We have security cameras in a lot of different places,” he said “We have the locked doors and the single point of entry just like you would expect.”

It’s only been a few days, but he feels like students are “taking care” of the new space, Willman said.

“I feel like in a situation like this, it makes people act differently,” he said. “Not that people were acting inappropriately to start with, but when you’re in a new space, this kind of raises the expectation, and I think it makes you act a little bit better.”

Students have also appreciated the upgrades to athletic facilities, according to Silver Creek High School Athletic Director Brandon Hoffman.

“I think they’re really proud of the facilities that we have now, and they appreciate what they have,” he said.

The school has a new football stadium and baseball/softball complexes, and the gym received a “major facelift” with new bleachers, basketball goals and locker rooms, Hoffman said.

He feels the facilities are “second to none.”

Briggs said there will be celebrations planned in 2025 as the upgrades coincide with the 100th anniversary of Silver Creek High School.

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