The dedication for West Side Elementary on Wednesday felt more like a homecoming party than a ceremony.
“We’re back together as a family,” Principal Jolene Routson said. “This is where we’re supposed to be.”
About 50 people turned out for the festivities, which included a ribbon-cutting and self-guided tour of the school. Gov. Tony Evers visited the newly constructed building ahead of the community open house.
West Side serves 282 students, with 18% being students with disabilities and 68.4% identifying as economically disadvantaged. About 3% are English learners. The pre-kindergarten through second-grade campus got a modern make-over, prioritizing bright, open spaces, technology integration and collaborative learning.