A major focus of the master plan is revamping the academic wing, as well as adding a media center to further enhance educational opportunities for students.
“The renovation of our academic spaces to support the educational program [is a priority]. It’s a 1964 building and it has to better support the academic programs,” said President Richard O’Hara.
The science labs were specifically mentioned as a necessity to upgrade in the master plan. O’Hara said, “You can’t have all students using tablets and walk into a science lab that has two electrical outlets; that’s the simplest example I can think of.”
“I think we need our science labs [updated], our 1964 science labs [are] far from optimal for collaboration and the kinds of sophistication called for in that specialized learning,” said Principal Paul Barker.
The science lab renovation will be based on “the trends that are happening in science education. All of that will be studied before anything is finalized,” said Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees Sister Mary Helen Beirne.
In addition, Barker cites insufficient office space for teachers as another concern. He said, “You share a classroom, you basically have to leave or put your head down in the corner if someone else is using your room. So we need to treat our teachers in the professional way they deserve.”
Sr. Beirne added, “We have not finalized the number of rooms [to be added]. It depends on how we configure the rooms. [That’s] more detail than the master plan will have.”
About the configuration of rooms, Barker said, “We don’t have great small group, sort of tutoring space. With the laptops, there are lots of collaborative opportunities that you can do anywhere, but it would be beneficial to have smaller group spaces than the big old classrooms.”
Inconsistencies in heating and air-conditioning throughout the building also will be addressed in the master plan.
“You’ve got the heating, HVAC [heating, ventilation, air conditioning] issues. Those issues are always present. We have window issues. In fact, a lot of the air circulation in our classrooms is just because our windows are so drafty they actually do us a favor and circulate the air pretty well. It means we also probably waste a lot of energy cranking up the heat, a lot of which is compromised because of the frigid air coming in from the outside at the same time,” said Barker.
Another goal is to have student common areas, or “different ways for students to gather,” said Sr. Beirne.
Added former Board chairman, now trustee emeritus Gus Brown, the most important areas to address in the plan are “a combination of a student union, common area, and the science facilities.”
Barker summarized the changes to the academic wing: “add office space, tutorial space, revamp classrooms, [and add] your basic sort of utilities.”
In addition, the library will be revamped into a media center.
“I love the idea of a new learning center. It’s more the intellectual hub [than a library],” said O’Hara. “It would have all kinds of spaces: it would have space for lecture, it would have places for students to work together in learning, it would have places with small groups for students and teachers, places to extend the technology, where you could walk in and have a language class that’s having a conversation in real time with a group of students in France.”
According to Sr. Beirne, the media center will partially face Route 22. Currently, it is planned to be part of an expansion of where the admissions conference room currently is, and extending partially to where the chapel is, next to the planned joint administrative offices.
Where the library is currently will be “used for other things” which have yet to be decided, said Sr. Beirne.
The idea for the media center is “part of the whole study about where we are going with education in 21st century. It came from what’s best in education,” said Sr. Beirne.
The future of the computer labs is still in question. Said Sr. Beirne, “Those are the kind of things that will be configured—how do we integrate more fully the use of laptops?”
Because of the multitude of planned changes, “the extent of the makeover that is required is pretty large. It’s all [a] 1964 [building]; it’s time for shaking it up a little.” said Barker.
However, the changes to the academic wing are being made for “the same reasons we want to do it [renovations] for the arts and athletics—so that the whole 72 acres will be the best in 21st century education for our young men and women. It’s how to use everything, not just a wing, not just a room, how to use the whole 72 acres so our Catholic identity is integrated the best in arts, academics, and athletics,” said Sr. Beirne.
Kate Froehlich can be reached for comment at [email protected].
“The Patriot” has already broken down aspects of the school’s proposed master plan. Check out the previous installments below and stay tuned for the next installment: fine arts.
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