WHS Students Drive Bond Upgrades

In the Weld RE-4 School District, we empower our students to face challenges head on and to become problem solvers and innovators. This aspirational vision recently became a reality through two 2022 Bond program contingency projects: the Windsor High School (WHS) press box and greenhouse renovations.

With both projects, student groups recognized a distinct need and capitalized upon an opportunity. The WHS Student Council and WHS FFA chapter presented their project proposals to the Bond Oversight Committee, which ultimately allocated funds from the 2022 Bond program contingency.

But student involvement didn’t end at the presentation table. These groups worked hand-in-hand with district staff members every step of the way to bring their visions to fruition. With construction underway this summer, both projects are estimated to be complete by the fall.

“From the start, both projects were student driven,” shared Chief Operating Officer Michael McCullar. “The vision, funding, design, and, ultimately, the construction have been overseen by the students with assistance from staff. We felt the real world experience of this process would be impactful to the learning and academic experiences of these students.”

The Press Box: Tuning in to a Better Future As a member of Windsor Wizards Broadcasting Network (WWBN), WHS Student Council Co-President Fisher Kintz witnessed firsthand the limitations of the school’s 1977 press box. The outdated structure hindered the students’ ability to broadcast athletic and activity events due to holes in the walls, inadequate space, lagging technology capabilities, and constant susceptibility to the elements.

“As Student Council members, we were required to have some sort of passion project,” Kintz recounted. “We initially planned on using duct tape and paint to repair the holes in the walls.”

McCullar stepped in to help guide the group toward a more sustainable, long-term approach.

“The Student Council reached out to me for guidance on what they could do to refresh the press box, and we went from a band-aid approach to a future vision pretty quickly,” McCullar shared.

With the expanded scope of the project, the students collaborated directly with contractors and suppliers, successfully securing donations for a substantial portion of the project costs.

The new press box will be completely rebuilt, offering adequate, modern facilities for the WWBN to livestream events and gain hands-on videography skills.

“The new press box [ won’t ] just affect members of the club, but the community as whole,” said Kintz. “The new press box ensures that no broadcasts will be canceled due to weather and no parent stuck at work / home will ever miss their kid’s game.”

The Greenhouse: Cultivating Career-Ready Skills Following the successful opening of the greenhouse in the Severance High Career & Technical Education Center, the Windsor FFA chapter received an anonymous donation to construct a similar facility.

“It started out as a dream for us,” shared Melinda Spaur, WHS Agriscience Teacher and FFA Advisor. “After several successful years of plant sales, it became apparent that we were running out of space in our greenhouse. In addition, there was a need for our 500-gallon fish tank to be relocated out of our dusty shop into a proper space to promote the best plant growth and aquatic environment.”

The addition of a larger greenhouse solved both challenges simultaneously. The new facility will be equipped with controllable shading and automated watering systems to expand horticultural offerings, and it will house vertical Tower Garden equipment. Meanwhile, the aquatic systems will move into the old greenhouse, providing a controlled environment for the fish while freeing up valuable space in the main shop.

“The greenhouse will allow us to expand our current facilities and offer career skills in the growing Colorado green industry,” continued Spaur. “Our greenhouse will be equipped with the most advanced equipment, allowing us to simulate the industry and teach our students the skills they need to become employable, or enter college and technical programs after high school.”

For Spaur, the value of the project lies as much in the collaborative journey as it does in the final structure.

“I love how not only I have been included, but students have, too,” she said. “They’ve learned about construction and greenhouse needs. This early, behind-the-scenes opportunity, [ has been ] invaluable for them.”