Wondering what that big, concrete monstrosity is in the back of the school? Well as much of an eye sore it is, it is actually a storm shelter that will serve multiple purposes for students and staff.

“It would give us the most current possible technology and safety protocols when it comes to FEMA-rated storm shelters,” principal Mark Schroeder said.

The ground leveling and grading began late last summer, but the actual construction did not begin until October.

“It was not ever intended to be done at the start of the school year,” Schroder explained.

The construction was supposed to be done around mid December, but construction setbacks, including the need to refabricate a ceiling crossbeam delayed progress. Shroeder said he expects the shelter to be completed by late March, just in time for severe weather season.

The giant concrete building is 7,000 square feet and is able to hold over 1,250 people, more that the current enrollment of the school. 

With a few minor setbacks, like a concrete slab breaking and parking lot struggles, the project is moving along at a steady pace. 

“It has affected the parking lot, which has affected traffic in the morning, which has affected first hour, like people getting here on time,” science teacher Chris Kurtt said.

Although the shelter has caused some students to be late to their first class, it will serve as more than just a concrete box.

“I think it’ll serve a multipurpose space, I think it’ll be rented by teams that need practices, and we talked about how it could be a place for AP testing, it could be a place for dances, that kind of thing,” Schroeder said. 

Although the storm shelter will be used as a safe place for tornados and other storms, 99% of its use will end up being non-storm related according to Schroeder.

“It gives a sense of security, knowing that we have that facility available, but also then in the future, it should be usable for other space, other things too, like extracurriculars or practices or things like that,” Kurtt said.

Safe to say that the big, ugly box is more than just a concrete slab.