Students who arrived after the starting bell on Friday, Sept. 28, were met with an uncommon circumstance at the newly renovated front entrance of the school: a crane was blocking the Welcome Center.

This was because new lights were being installed in front of the school. Construction workers lowered themselves below the bridge in order to install the cable through the bottom of the bridge. 

The district scheduled the bridge replacement over this past summer and it was finished just days before the start of the school year. 

Since the school opened in 1993, the bridge has been the same.

“Hopefully this bridge will last another 30,” Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle said. 

Dr. Waeckerle said the renovation was necessary as the concrete on the bridge had been chipping.

The planter and benches were removed for construction, but two have been reinstalled. The Marquette Parent Organization also placed more benches around the gym entrance to give students a place to wait for rides.

The large planter in front of the school was also removed during construction.

“We are going to get some more benches out when it’s officially cleared, but for the big structure, we’re working with the parent organization,” Dr. Waeckerle said.

Ellie Pryce, sophomore, said the new entrance is nicer.

“It feels more spacious, but I do think there should be more places to sit,” Pryce said.

The administration is talking about an even larger extension in the future to the current front entrance. Sophomore Principal Kyle Devine said the idea is to connect and enclose the white overhangs to create a single and larger main entrance to the building. This concept would increase safety and cause less confusion for visitors.

Devine said the main hang up is the funding. 

As of now, a timeline of these tentative plans will not be solidified until funding is secured.

Additional reporting from Annabelle Miller & Aubrey Lacavich.