The Greene County Schools building on Ram Drive, which up until a year ago was still referred to by old-timers as the “new” high school (built in 1965) has a new look and a new purpose. Between the Covid-19 pandemic and the construction crews’ schedules, the district has not been able to host open houses at the new high school on N. Grimmell Rd or the repurposed building, now the middle school.
Greene County Schools board members and a few members of the public toured the middle school following the board meeting Dec. 16.
Like the high school, the repurposing of the middle school was done with an eye toward providing spaces for students to gather and collaborate. The large trophy cases were taken from the hallway east of the media center and replaced with café-style booths. The computer lab next to the media center was opened up and is furnished for collaboration.
This collaboration space is open from the main hallway, outside the media center. 
The booths are where the trophy cases were.
In the library, the circulation desk was moved to provide better access to students. Funds for furnishing the library came from the estate of Ray Dillard, who taught Jefferson middle schoolers for 38 years. The school district received $140,000 from Dillard’s estate in 2017; the funds were earmarked for the middle school library.
New layout, furnishings in media center 
Staff won’t argue for a chance to use this seating.
Before the repurposing, band and vocal music shared classroom space. With the repurposing, the tiers in the band room were removed, giving directors much more flexibility in seating. The former wrestling room on the south side of the building is now the general music/choir room. The room is large enough that an exterior door had to be added to meet safety codes.
The classrooms aren’t changed much, but teachers appreciate the larger spaces. According to school superintendent Tim Christensen, the social distance required by the pandemic would not have been possible in the small classrooms at the 1921 building.
Six classrooms have been carpeted with “hand-me-down” carpet from the Kum & Go office building in Ames. OPN Architects arranged for that donation.
Improvements are most obvious in the gymnasium. The north wall of the gym was moved to provide space for bleachers that can accommodate up to 300 spectators. Windows were added at the top of the new wall, finally providing daylight in the gym. A new hardwood floor, complete with the Greene County Ram, finishes the look.
The remaining space to the north of the gym, which previously was the wood, metal and auto shop, is now the wrestling practice room. Students in the construction class have built a concrete wall that separates the wrestling mats from an aerobic/weight area.
New look for the gym, with seating for 300. 
The wrestling room is not yet completed.
The doors to the main entrance are locked during the school day and visitors enter through a door to the east (left, facing the school), into what was the Ram Restaurant. That space is now the main office.
The administration offices are located along the front (north) side of the building where the Family and Consumer Science classes were held. The superintendent’s office is on the east end of the building, with the business office and a board room completing the administrative suite.
Total cost of the repurposing is $4.9 million.
Reception area in the administrative site. The board room doorway is pictured in the back, center of the photo. 
The superintendent’s office
