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A crowd of nearly 500 turned out in Greensburg Monday afternoon to witness the dedication of a new K-12 school not only unlike any in Kansas, but unlike any in the nation. Assuming it becomes certified LEED Platinum as expected, the newly finished facility would be the only one of its kind in the U.S. serving all 13 grade levels.
The May 4, 2007 tornado, of course, flattened both Greensburg’s High School and Elementary School. A little over three years and $52 million later, the new Kiowa County School stands at the south end of the town’s main street.
To open Monday’s event USD 422 Superintendent Darin Headrick stood before the half-full primary gymnasium saying, “It isn’t about the building. It’s about people.” As the hour-long program proceeded, however, it became clear this event was about both.
As advertised, the ceremony was dedicated largely to acknowledging the hard work and perseverance of the scores of people who made the day possible. School officials, staff, students, parents, architects, contractors, government officials and politicians all played various roles, all of which were duly noted. But as Headrick introduced Casey Cassias of the BNIM architectural firm that has designed many of the new Greensburg’s public buildings, he made clear why he and his board chose the Kansas City-based firm.
“We wanted an architect that wasn’t in the business of building schools,” Headrick explained. “We wanted something fresh,” he continued, noting that most schools look more or less alike, both inside and out. “We wanted something different.”
Acting as emcee, Headrick introduced seven speakers, the first of which was U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, who gave the keynote address at the graduation of Greensburg’s 2007 seniors two weeks after the tornado under a tent on the fringe of the town’s golf course.
Roberts recalled his arrival at the devastated town at daybreak of the next day, May 5, as well as stopping at the shelter in Haviland on his way back to Pratt later that day when another tornado warning was sounded in Greensburg. There he met a shirtless and shoeless survivor who told Roberts, “I just had my life taken away from me.”
“No, sir, you didn’t,” Roberts remembers replying. “We’re going to build back.” Though he gave the unidentified man his card Roberts never heard back from him. “I wish I’d asked his name,” he said. “I’d like to know how he made out.”
A crowd of nearly 500 turned out in Greensburg Monday afternoon to witness the dedication of a new K-12 school not only unlike any in Kansas, but unlike any in the nation. Assuming it becomes certified LEED Platinum as expected, the newly finished facility would be the only one of its kind in the U.S. serving all 13 grade levels.
The May 4, 2007 tornado, of course, flattened both Greensburg’s High School and Elementary School. A little over three years and $52 million later, the new Kiowa County School stands at the south end of the town’s main street.
To open Monday’s event USD 422 Superintendent Darin Headrick stood before the half-full primary gymnasium saying, “It isn’t about the building. It’s about people.” As the hour-long program proceeded, however, it became clear this event was about both.
As advertised, the ceremony was dedicated largely to acknowledging the hard work and perseverance of the scores of people who made the day possible. School officials, staff, students, parents, architects, contractors, government officials and politicians all played various roles, all of which were duly noted. But as Headrick introduced Casey Cassias of the BNIM architectural firm that has designed many of the new Greensburg’s public buildings, he made clear why he and his board chose the Kansas City-based firm.
“We wanted an architect that wasn’t in the business of building schools,” Headrick explained. “We wanted something fresh,” he continued, noting that most schools look more or less alike, both inside and out. “We wanted something different.”
Acting as emcee, Headrick introduced seven speakers, the first of which was U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, who gave the keynote address at the graduation of Greensburg’s 2007 seniors two weeks after the tornado under a tent on the fringe of the town’s golf course.
Roberts recalled his arrival at the devastated town at daybreak of the next day, May 5, as well as stopping at the shelter in Haviland on his way back to Pratt later that day when another tornado warning was sounded in Greensburg. There he met a shirtless and shoeless survivor who told Roberts, “I just had my life taken away from me.”
“No, sir, you didn’t,” Roberts remembers replying. “We’re going to build back.” Though he gave the unidentified man his card Roberts never heard back from him. “I wish I’d asked his name,” he said. “I’d like to know how he made out.”
Commenting on the BOE’s tough decision to change the school’s name, mascot and colors, Roberts said, “Only Mavericks could pick burnt orange, the color of Texas,” grimacing as he finished the sentence. “But seriously, what a marvelous facility and you are marvelous people. The real heroes here are you and your youngsters.”
In addition to Dr. Diane DeBacker of the Kansas Commision of Eduacation and FEMA Regional Administrator, Beth Freeman, Greensburg native and State Treasurer Dennis McKinney spoke, McKinney recalling a give and take between Headrick and the media shortly after the storm.
“I remember Darin telling the media school would open on time on August 15,” McKinney said. “And they asked him what his backup plan was if that didn’t happen. Darin just said, ‘The calendar says we’ll open August 15.’
“And again they asked him, ‘Yes, but if that doesn’t work out, what’s your backup plan?’ And Darin again said, ‘The calendar say’s we’ll open August 15.’
“They asked him again what the backup plan would be if that didn’t happen, and again he said, ‘The calendar says we’ll open August 15.’ And guess what, school did open August 15.”
In addition to Pat McCown of McCown Gordon Construction and Cassias speaking, BOE president Ki Gamble spoke last, recalling talking to Headrick the day after the storm and asking if he were going to stay. Saying he was relieved when Headrick answered yes, Gamble noted, “It was reassuring to know we wouldn’t have to build a new school and hire a new superintendent.”
Closing the program before the ribbon cutting Headrick took the podium and spoke briefly to the objections of some over the $52 million price tag of the school—a price tag that left a $13 million dollar funding gap after insurance proceeds, FEMA, KDEM, and USDA money had been accounted for—a gap that Gamble pointed out Headrick worked tirelessly and successfully to close.
“Some people have said, ‘They spent that much money for 300 kids?’” Headrick noted, citing the estimated K-12 population for the upcoming year. “Well, we’re going to have school for more than one year,” he continued. “Just like the old school (high school building that was destroyed in the storm) that was built in 1923 served generations of kids and their parents, so will this building. And it should serve them well. And that’s what really counts.”
