While many enjoyed a lengthy winter recess to end last month, the district’s facilities staff and construction partners were hard at work making building improvements and maintaining schools.
Construction on the high school’s auditorium continued, with the expectation of completing by the end of this month. The timeline for the combined project remodeling both the high and middle school auditoriums shifted slightly to accommodate one final performance at the middle school later this month, giving more time for finishing touches at the high school that may have otherwise been executed later in the year. New paneling on the walls of the high school auditorium was installed on the newly painted spaces, with new hexagonal designs on the walls above. The new seats have already arrived and installation is imminent.
Two other important spaces were also under renovation in both secondary schools.
Crews over the break completed work on the new high school innovation lab, save for a few final tasks and arrangement of furniture. The lab, which is located down the hallway between the math and art wings, will become the fourth innovation lab completed across the district.
There was also substantial work done on the innovation lab at the middle school, which is located on the bottom floor of the school around the corner from the cafeteria. The work in the middle school including installing a steel I-beam, which needed to be assembled within the room. Both rooms are double classrooms, with the beams allowing for the spaces to be opened up. The designs are similar, with a variety of tables and seating choices, white and bulletin boards and numerous power sources dropping down from the ceilings.
The innovation labs, which have already opened in four of the elementary schools, will give students across the district access to modern STEAM learning resources in bright, welcoming spaces that encourage exploration.
Meanwhile, Interim Director of Facilities George Prine said his buildings and grounds staff cleaned and maintained all district buildings throughout the break, and praised their efforts amid several days of inclement weather.
“The guys did well clearing snow with all of these storms,” he said.