Facilities Update #5: Remodeled High School Greenhouse 🌱
Today’s facilities update (5 of 5) highlights the updates made to the greenhouse over the last five months.
Because the greenhouse had been leaking and inoperable for over a decade, Altimate Outdoors from Glandorf removed the existing greenhouse structure and replaced it with tempered glass and powder-coated aluminum beams meant to extend the lifespan of the structure. They also gave us a discount of over 15% on their work, which we greatly appreciate.
After the replacement of the exterior made the greenhouse water-tight, Mr. Casey Morman and the maintenance staff undertook the interior renovation. The walls were repainted, baseboard heat and a humidifier were installed to ensure the greenhouse's functionality, and the door into the greenhouse from Room 236 was replaced.
In addition to creating learning opportunities in agriculture education and science classes, students are also helping plan how the items in the greenhouse will be arranged. Sophomores Rachel Betts and Paightyn Craft, members of the Greenhouse and Floriculture Management class, shared how they and their classmates are exploring how the food they grow could be used in the cafeteria. They are also considering how plants they start in the greenhouse could be used in the village community garden in the spring. Betts said, “We are excited to be growing plants at school so everyone can benefit from them, not just the FFA students.”
In order to fund the students’ plans, Director of Teaching and Learning Mrs. Cassie Schaffer is applying for grants to purchase furniture and other educational tools. They will also be able to incorporate tools agriculture education teacher Mrs. Hailey Cunningham purchased last year with funds she received from the AgCredit Mission Fund grant.
It has been a while since our greenhouse was up and running, but we’re thrilled to see it come back to life! The possibilities it provides for hands-on learning and new educational experiences for our students are endless.
Summer Facilities Update #4: Remodeled High School Restrooms
Today’s update (4 of 5) highlights the updates made to restrooms throughout the high school over the last six months.
While a majority of the work was done over the summer and finished last week, the maintenance & facilities staff started the renovations last February when they made improvements to the restrooms in the fine arts wing (learn more in the February 2025 Facilities Knight Insight and on the Van Buren Local Schools Facebook page).
Over the summer, the restrooms on the second floor between the library and science classrooms and the staff restrooms were revamped with new sinks, partitions, toilets and urinals, mirrors, ceilings (grids and tiles), LED lights, dispensers, and a fresh coat of paint.
New ceilings and lights were also added to the restrooms between Mrs. Leddy’s second-floor Spanish classroom and Mr. Bunn’s eighth-grade math classroom, and the sinks in the boys’ bathroom were replumbed.
The most extensive renovation took place in the first floor restrooms servicing the gym and cafeteria areas. In order to do the job correctly the first time, both restrooms were completely gutted, including taking down the wall separating the boys’ and girls’ restrooms so longtime plumbing issues could be addressed.
With everything gutted, the layout of the restrooms was adjusted to better utilize the space, including raising the ceilings and reducing the number of sinks and urinals. In addition to the same upgrades made in the other restrooms, new flooring and doors were installed to give us the equivalent of brand new restrooms in one of the most high-traffic areas of our building both during the day and at indoor athletic events.
The response from students has been very positive. High school students Haidyn Sattler and Leah Sheeks both agree that they appreciate the new soap dispensers, fresh paint, and stability of the new stall doors. Likewise, middle school students Mia Howard, Maddie McDaniel, and Adalyn Mimbs noticed how everything from the mirrors to the brighter lights look nice, and they appreciate warm water to wash their hands.
Because of the work of Casey Morman and his team, our students, staff, and visitors can look forward to a more welcoming and comfortable experience on our campus.
Summer Facilities Update #3: New Practice Field Provides Much-Needed Space
Today’s update (3 of 5) highlights the new practice field on the former 209 South Main Street site purchased in 2024.
Demolition of the house and buildings started on September 11, 2024, and progress of the project from beginning to end can be viewed at https://www.vbschools.net/page/209-south-main-project1.
After demolition was completed, the following improvements were made to create a safe practice space and improve traffic flow through campus:
**Laying conduit to provide power for an irrigation controller and future electricity needs
**Installing curbs
**Installing an irrigation system
**Widening Vorwerk Street
**Eliminating and moving power poles
**Planting grass
Work was completed by November 1, 2024, but no one was allowed to use the space until practices started in late July to allow the grass to fully take root.
The boys’ and girls’ soccer and middle school football teams have used the space to practice, and it is also available to other school groups needing practice space.
Thank you to American Electric Power (AEP), Aqua Lawn Irrigation, Bowman Electric, Helms Construction, USA Lawn and Landscaping, and our facilities team for their work to provide a safe space for our students to practice.
Summer Facilities Update #2: Brightening & Refreshing Our Spaces
Today’s update (2 of 5) highlights improvements to lighting, ceilings, stairways, and regulatory signage across the district this summer.
The most noticeable change is the new LED lighting found in the high school math and agriculture education hallways, restrooms, and auditorium lobby. These lights are brighter, more efficient, and virtually maintenance-free for at least five years. In fact, a Department of Energy study found LEDs are 25% more efficient than fluorescent lights, but the most significant savings will come from less maintenance needed to keep the lights working.
While installing the lights, new ceiling grids and tiles were added to some of the restrooms. The ceilings were also raised in some of the restrooms, making them feel larger and, with a fresh coat of paint, increasing the brightness.
Other areas in all three buildings were also revitalized with new paint. In the elementary, all of the handrails were repainted, including the one at the exterior loading dock. The second and third floor hallways in the middle school received a fresh coat, as did multiple stairwells in the high school.
Finally, old regulatory signage was replaced between the high school and elementary to ensure safety in this high-traffic pedestrian and vehicle area.
Casey Morman and our facilities team are working every day to make our campus safer and more welcoming, and we appreciate the work they do.
Maintenance and Facilities Supervisor Casey Morman and his staff have been hard at work updating and preparing our facilities for the upcoming school year, and this is the first of multiple posts we will be sharing to show their progress. We will start with three of the most visible exterior projects: installation of two new stoplights, installation of three new exterior doors, and sealing of the north parking lot.
The old stoplights, installed in 1969, became a problem last year as they needed to have the bulbs replaced every couple weeks. The new stoplights are equipped with LED bulbs, which will last several years before replacement is needed. The lights were also raised to allow safe clearance for vehicles traveling below, and a new operating panel was installed. Safety grant money Deputy Crouch and Morman secured for the district covered the entire cost of the project.
The safety grant also covered the entire cost of the installation of three new aluminum exterior doors in the weight room (one set of double doors, one single door) and industrial technology shop (one single door). Because the doors are made of aluminum, they will provide durability with little need for maintenance.
Finally, with the north parking lot heading into its third year, it was time for it to be sealed and lined. Moving forward, each of the parking lots (north; east, including the drive around the medieval garden; and west in front of the high school) will be sealed on a three-year rotation to maximize the lifespan of the asphalt.
We appreciate the work the Maintenance and Facilities team does to keep our facilities safe, up-to-date, and welcoming every day!
