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1. From an educational standpoint, what will the new building offer to our students that the current building cannot?

The new building will immediately impact how teachers are able to deliver instruction because they will have access to the most up-to-date equipment and 21st century technology. For example:

• All science classrooms will be outfitted for the type of science taught in it including all necessary safety equipment to perform required experiments in that field.
• Larger science classrooms will enable students to safely perform experiments using tools from modern-day laboratories
• Our engineering program will be enhanced with an efficient fabrication space that will allow students to design, build and test their prototypes.
• Interdisciplinary courses in the Humanities will have access to large group instructional spaces
• The new television studio will incorporate up to date Mass Media & Television Production to further develop the existing programs.
• The Fitness Center & Weight Room will house the types of training equipment that one could find in any commercial health club.
• Music, theatre dance and chorus classrooms will have proper acoustics, practice spaces, and secured storage areas to assure the continued success of our dance, vocal, and instrumental music programs
• Art classrooms will provide natural light and be large enough for students to fully explore their creativity.
• The Auditorium will be fully outfitted with electronic, sound, and lighting equipment necessary for dramatic productions and music performances while being historically restored.

The new and fully renovated buildings will afford us the opportunity to flexibly group students which has been shown in research enhance learning. All of our teachers will have access to spaces that are both large and small, enabling them to combine with other classes for interdisciplinary instruction or to split a class in order to work with smaller groups of students who may be in need of remediation or enrichment.

The cluster configuration of the classrooms and location of teacher work-spaces invites enrichment and collaboration. Teachers of English/Language Arts, Social Studies, World Languages, and the arts will be clustered together into a Culture & Humanities pod. Likewise, science, math, business technology, and engineering classrooms will be located adjacent to each other in a STEM pod. So, in the new building the physics and calculus teacher could be sharing an office and if the math teacher needs a “real life” example of a calculus function, the physics teacher is just a conversation away! In our current building, teachers may go weeks without seeing each other because of the size of the building alone.

The Library/Media Center be housed in a historically restored dance hall in Coburn Building. Here students will have access to the space and resources necessary for small groups of students to complete projects and other forms of hands-on assessment without disturbing others. Likewise, for students in need of remediation or support, the new Academic Support Centers will have flexible grouping spaces, study corrals, and dedicated technology.

2. Will the educational programs be different in the new buildings?

Initially the Program of Studies will remain relatively the same, although the new building will allow us to update the programs that we have into the 21st century. For example, the new construction will enhance our existing engineering program by providing an up-to-date fabrication space that will allow students to design, build and test prototypes.

3. What kind of disruption will there be to everyday classes during construction of the new building?

The project will be constructed in four (4) phases with some intermediate milestones.   Phase 1 will be the demolition of the adjacent property (75 Arcand Dr.), as well as construction of the new gymnasium building, and cafeteria. Phase 2 will be the partial demolition, and rebuilding of the back third of the 1980s building, reconstruction of the south bridge, and construction of the new freshman academy. Phase 3 will consist of renovation of the remaining two thirds of the 1980s building, construction of the new north bridge, and renovation of the north portion of the 1922 building. The final phase, Phase 4, will consist of renovation of the south portion of the 1922 building, as well as renovation of the 1890s building. School will remain in full session throughout these phases. There will be some inconveniences and/or disruptions on the High School campus to include items such as: traffic flow, parking, and underground utilities.

4. Will the new school offer vocational education opportunities?

Yes. Business Marketing and Finance.