With phase one of the renovations drawing to an end, some faculty are awaiting the changes while others have experienced it first hand and lived to tell about it.

DeAnne Casteel’s classroom is scheduled for the Phase 4 of renovations. As an English teacher, the number of working computers has become a struggle. Eleven computers fill her room, but she has at least 22 students in each class. With no Learning Center, students find it difficult to complete assignments in class.

A part of Casteel is missing since the stage was removed from her classroom. Normally, her classes act out books, short stories, and plays on that stage. It also served as a platform to reach the blackboard. Instead, Casteel uses a wobbly chair to go up and down, straining her already sore shoulder.

With the help of Casteel’s students before the summer started, room 103 was packed into more than 70 cardboard boxes. She stored them in her father’s barn. Those boxes contained costumes, props and other unique teaching aides Casteel uses every year. At Halloween the classroom would come alive and look festive. With the cauldron packed away, the holiday spirit was too. “It’s like my little nest,” she says with a giggle.

Brian Major’s temporary office is located in the wrestling room. Major claims, “It’s a better spot than others.” His students participate in modified versions of activities they will complete later in a standard classroom.

James Yates teaches in five different classrooms throughout the day. He has found running around the school from classroom to classroom very monotonous. Lesson plans are made more adaptable for the constant changes, yet Yates finds it difficult to keep students focused with all the distractions. About once a week, Yates checks the progress of his new classroom. When it is completed, he expects to see more blackboard space and a projection system.

English teacher Michael McGarry also has different classrooms throughout the day, and he is experiencing difficulties teaching and showing examples with limited board space. During the day, middle school band as well as voice classes cause distractions for his students.

Some of McGarry’s classes are held in the video production room, band room and the cafeteria, all with inadequate seating, terrible acoustics, and unwelcome distractions. McGarry holds his 11th period American Literature Honors class outside, where he will continue to teach until his room is finished.

With the first phase almost completed, students as well as teachers know what to expect for the rest of the year. More hard work, effort, and appreciation will be needed.