Westonka staff member says bond-funded renovation transformed classrooms and teaching

A Westonka Public School District staff member said the community passed a bond a couple of years ago that paid for a complete renovation of the district’s building, and described how the changes have reshaped day-to-day teaching.

"We are incredibly grateful that our community a couple years ago passed a bond to support a complete renovation of our building," the staff member said, adding that the work "completely transform[ed] our classrooms and our learning spaces so that our teachers can teach with elevated instruction connected to technology and truly prepare themselves for what is to come after their high school years."

The renovation, the speaker said, produced noticeably larger classrooms that have changed how they teach. "I've set up my room so that I actually teach from the middle of the room now," the staff member said, explaining that the layout makes it easier to work alongside students and check in with each student multiple times during a lesson, which they said helps build strong relationships.

The staff member also pointed to new whiteboards, upgraded technology and movable desks as features that make communication and flexible learning easier. "The breakout rooms also really help," they said, noting teachers can move students into those spaces for group work or private tasks. The speaker said those rooms are useful when they need to film something for class or when a student needs a distraction-free space.

Windows installed as part of the renovation, the staff member said, let students use adjacent hallway areas for individual work while remaining visible to the teacher, expanding supervised options for where learning can happen.

The staff member did not provide the bond amount or specific timeline for the renovation; those details were not specified in the remarks.