Readers who’ve been around a while know that I am a teacher. The school where I work was built in the 90s and it’s getting dated and old. So thanks to SPLOST money, construction at my workplace is under way and the resulting chaos it’s a bit stressful. It’s stressful for both the teachers and the students.

A Bit?

That is an understatement. The construction project started in January when we returned from winter holidays. Working out the details is ongoing. How to successfully move 250 students from learning cottages (aka trailers) to the bus loading area without it taking more than 15 minutes has proven a challenge. We often run late and leave after the normal dismissal time.

Construction Takes Time

This construction project will take a long time. Two more years of this. At the middle school level, students freak out at small changes. Expecting them to go with the flow of MAJOR construction going on during school hours is a LOT.

My Room

My room is scheduled to be renovated during the summer so at least I don’t have to move to a trailer for a semester but I am still tense because everything is different. Humans are creatures of habit, after all. I look forward to being free from the construction zone as soon as possible.

What are they doing?

For the most part, the renovations at my school are cosmetic. In my classroom, they will remove the counter that’s along one wall, and add built-in cabinets in two places. New carpet will replace nasty old carpet. Teachers get new desks and file cabinets and an adjustable lectern on wheels. Walls will be painted, and new whiteboards put in with a corkboard on one side for a bulletin board. Most rooms will also get a whiteboard in the back of the classroom. We also get completely new desks and chairs. It’s exciting to get an overhaul like this.

Beyond the Classroom

The construction zone extends beyond each classroom. On the Connections hall, new teacher bathrooms will be added and there will be a new Agriculture corner, where the agriculture room will have much more specialized facilities in place, and will egress out onto a patio with access to the greenhouse and chicken coop.

The 6th-grade wing is moving to the center hallway and will get a completely new section, with like six new classrooms and a new egress to the bus loop. The 7th-grade and 8th-grade wings get new science labs and classrooms added onto the end of their respective wings.

The whole construction project adds a substantial amount of capacity for students, as enrollment continues to increase.

Overall

Construction zones might be stressful but the end result will be worth it. (Update: It was worth it!)

Education

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December 15, 2024 / faebell

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