West Branch Elementary School’s renovations were supposed to start this past December. However, because of price discussions, the start date was delayed until the beginning of February. 

Many ask how the renovations will affect high school students. The biggest change that will affect students will be parking. The first parking spots to be taken will be the elementary parking which will cause a domino effect, eventually causing high school students and staff to lose parking. However, the school has decided to use the softball parking lot as a temporary space for students to park. Also, the use of the church parking lot has been mentioned if allowed. There are no high school classrooms undergoing renovations so the day should look normal for students in grades 9-12. However, expect noise and commotion going on outside and (sometimes) in the building.  

Superintendent Mark Mitchell says, “The big thing is traffic flow and how student drop off / pick up will be affected.” Once all the renovations are done, parent pick-up and drop-off will be in front of the school while students will board the buses behind the school.

The renovations will affect some middle school classrooms. The art room and STEM room will be relocated temporarily while construction is underway. By the music room, a small auditorium will be built to accommodate four classrooms, so students won’t have to walk through the high school and disrupt classes. The big change in the elementary school is that walls and doors will be installed in classrooms. This will be a big step in school safety for elementary classrooms and students. Kindergarten teacher Allison Koleno says, “I think it is wonderful! As a past student and as a current staff member, I feel it will make the building a much safer and healthier place to learn and teach.  It was much needed!”

All renovations should be completed by Spring 2026. They include more parking on the side of the elementary school, moving the playground behind the elementary school, adding a small auditorium, adding doors and walls in classrooms which will add additional safety, adding more natural light in the third-grade classrooms, and paving the softball parking lot.