At Janet Kahn, Students and Families Marvel at New State-of-the-Art School
Project made possible by voters in the November 2019 school bond election.
Hundreds descended on Janet Kahn School of Integrated Arts last Thursday for a first-hand look at the transformation of the once antiquated school into an exciting learning venue featuring such areas as a modern performing arts space and music and art rooms to a library that harkens visitors to come in and lose themselves in a reading adventure.
Students proudly showed off their school to parents, siblings, and even grandparents during the Aug. 24 ceremonial grand opening and open house. Community members, including retired educators who once taught at Janet Kahn, also toured the school and marveled at the many amenities.
The $43 million school replacement project was made possible by voters in the November 2019 school bond election. Janet Kahn opened in 1956 and was in serious need of upgrades.
Besides replacing old infrastructure, the project will allow Janet Kahn to transition from a pre-K-5 school to a pure magnet choice school that also serves sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students. The school has just added a sixth-grade class.
Phase 1 of the project involved more than 35,000 square feet of new construction, including general education classrooms, a parent room, a kindergarten, and a mini gym. The second phase involved 79,000 square feet of new construction and included the administrative suite, library, classrooms, support spaces, parent drop-off drive extension, a new parking lot, a new playground, a turf play field, and other site work.
The architect on the project is Van H. Gilbert Architects. Thompson Construction Inc. was the contractor for the first phase, while Bradbury Stamm Construction handled the second phase.