Shawano Community High School students have been attending classes for about three weeks, using the new spaces and equipment that are part of a multimillion school construction referendum.
District officials gathered Sept. 26 to formally celebrate the project with a ribbon cutting and open house, delayed from a few weeks ago to coincide with homecoming events.
“Today is a celebration of vision, hard work, partnership and community. We are proud to … celebrate the opportunities these spaces will provide for our students for years to come,” Superintendent Kurt Krizan said. “Today is more than cutting a ribbon. It is about celebrating an investment in our students, our staff and the future of the Shawano community.”
The $51.2 million referendum was approved in November 2024. While Hillcrest Primary School, Olga Brener Intermediate School and Shawano Community Middle School also received updates, the majority of the work happened at the high school.
In addition to a new sports complex, the project also included renovated classrooms, a new family and consumer science lab, new technology spaces, new music spaces and improvement to athletic spaces.
“These spaces are more than new walls, new equipment and updated finishes,” Krizan said. “They are places where students will learn. They are places where students will create. They are places where students will discover talent and interests they don’t know they have.
“They are places where teachers will inspire students, and where students will prepare for college, career and life beyond high school.”
Krizan made a special note to thank the district maintenance and technology staff, school staff, school board members and the team from Hoffman Planning, Design and Construction — the general contractor.
School Board President Christine McKinnies said the project would not have been possible without the support of voters in the community.
“Thank you for believing in our students and our staff enough to make this possible,” she said.
She also thanked the high school staff who were flexible and patient while they were displaced and their classrooms were renovated, remodeled and rebuilt.
Residents toured the school after the ceremony.
Jason Eggert, a technology education teacher, talked extensively about the new equipment and new space in the tech ed area.
The space features individual welding areas, a mezzanine for storage and space for new and larger machining equipment.
“Some of the new equipment is still rolling, getting unpacked and set up,” he said.
He noted the many community contributions to the department, including money and equipment from JR Machine in Shawano.
Eggert also talked with residents about how AI will affect programming, machining, quality control and efficiencies.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Shawano School District Superintendent Kurt Krizan addresses those gathered at high school ribbon cutting and open house Sept. 26. The event celebrated the work performed as part of the $51.2 million referendum approved by voters in November 2024. (Kevin Passon | NEW Media)
Jason Eggert, a technology education teacher at Shawano Community High School, talks with residents about the new tech ed space and equipment that was part of the $51.2 million building referendum. (Kevin Passon | NEW Media)
Jason Eggert, a technology education teacher at Shawano Community High School, talks with residents about the new tech ed space and equipment that was part of the $51.2 million building referendum. (Kevin Passon | NEW Media)
