Junior Eilif Mikkelsen has recently been named student liaison to the high school building project. The goal of having a student liaison is to smooth the transition into the new high school. While construction workers dug the foundation that will one day be Wayland High School, Mikkelsen has been planning for the two years ahead.

Said Wayland High School Principal Patrick Tutwiler, “I thought it would be a good idea to have at least one student who knows as much about the building project as I do, has a genuine interest in the building project and has the skills and the energy and the willingness to be a go-to-person for students.”

Mikkelsen’s job is to learn everything he possibly can about what’s happening on the other side of the construction fence. In order to do so, Tutwiler and Mikkelsen constantly exchange e-mails discussing the current events of the building process. If necessary, Mikkelsen is also able to schedule a 15-30 minute meeting with Tutwiler.

“We sat down over the summer and had some conversations about what this could look like,” said Tutwiler.

Since the summer, this position has grown. Mikkelsen now has a Facebook page used to publish all the latest information on the construction. Most students log onto Facebook every day, so Mikkelsen believes it is the best medium to transfer information.

“I want to make Facebook my primary mode of communication because e-mail is so secondary,” he said.

The goal of having a student liaison is to make the transition into the new high school smooth. Over the next two years Mikkelsen will be on site, talking with Tutwiler and the building project manager.

Mikkelsen wants to be a resource for students at the high school.

“I’m here for any question from ‘Why is my history classroom shaking?’ to traffic flow,” he said.

According to Mikkelsen, the current rumbling in the school buildings is caused by the movement of heavy equipment. The shaking should end within the next two weeks. The current noise and shaking will be replaced by the sound of welders, hammers, and drills, all sounds that can be blocked out by shutting a classroom door.

At the moment, construction workers are just finishing the foundation for the school. With a bird’s eye view, one would be able to see the basement. Before school started, construction workers were mainly digging up dirt to prepare for the school year.

Both Tutwiler and Mikkelsen are very excited for what’s called the “topping off” of the project. Traditionally during a building project, the last support beam of the skeletal structure is a milestone. When this beam goes up in the coming weeks, the school plans to have a small ceremony.

“We would paint the last beam white, and all the students, over the course of a week, can sign it. That would give everyone a little mark on the new school,” said Mikkelsen. “We want to make the progress of the project a little more front and center in school life. After all, this is going to become part of the Wayland High School culture.”

Tutwiler and Mikkelsen are also trying to start mini independent studies on the construction site. The plan is to give interested students a class that can be related to the jobs on the site and bring them out into the field. More details will be released as the start date for these studies approaches.

“Unfortunately nothing spicy for this right now; it’s just an idea that’s starting to take shape,” said Tutwiler. “So far, so good, and I think things will start to pick up once the more interesting parts of the project start to take place.”

If you have any questions or concerns for Mikkelsen, you can reach him on the Student Liaison Facebook page, e-mail him, or call him at (774)-421-9233.