New faces, facilities await returning Rangers

The students walking into the doors of Ross Beatty Junior/Senior High School on Wednesday will be greeted by new lockers, a new gym floor, and a new principal.

The beginning of the 2014-2015 school year begins for students in the Cassopolis Public School district on Wednesday. The district’s leadership is ready to take on the incoming batch of young learners, after a summer full of renovations and new hires, said Superintendent Tracy Hertsel.

Construction work taken place throughout the summer to get the high school building ready for the school year, with improvements made to student and atletic lockers, the gymnasium floor, the school’s kitchen area and other class areas. The renovations were made due to the repairs to portions of the building following the water damage caused by a ruptured pipe during winter.

“Because of the repairs to the flood damage, things are looking really good at the high school,” Hertsel said. “The kids will be excited about that.”

The district also finished the installation of a new electric sign outside their other building, Sam Adams Elementary.

The improvements to the school facilities were accompanied by several key changes in school staff, including the hiring of Dave VanLue to take over as the head of Ross Beatty. VanLue takes over for outgoing principal Bob Sieko, who left the district after the board of education elected to not renew his contract in May.

“[VanLue] has the knowledge base and education to excel in the position,” Hertsel said. “I think people will be surprised by the changes he is making there, which will be good for students.”

Despite the strides taken during the summer, the district is forecasting a modest decline in enrollment for this year, Hertsel said, which he partially blamed on the depressed local job market.

In spite of this setback, teachers and administrators made a few necessary adjustments to accommodate the smaller student base, and are eagerly awaiting the first bell on Wendesday.

“We’re expecting to see some pleasant surprises to the building,” Hertsel said.