The start of the 2009-2010 school year brought many new items, budget cuts, and new policies. At Athens Drive, it brought a new Modular unit, also known as the new Pod. Trailers from last year were replaced with this new mod unit which maximizes the space used.

With many classrooms put into one large trailer, the space was able to be cut down. The inside of this new Pod resembles a little school with many classrooms, a bathroom for girls and boys, and a teacher’s bathroom. The old trailers didn’t have bathrooms in them, so the students used to have to walk all the way to the school. Now, the new Pod offers a lot of indoor facilities that help the students and teachers.

Penn Pace, Study Skills teacher and Freshman Coordinator said, “The Pod is helpful to the teachers who had to float around last year because now they have their own classrooms and all their materials are right there.”

There is a white board in each classroom along with computers in some of them, so that all the resources that the students may need to learn efficiently are available right inside the Mod Pod. All the class rooms in the Pod are similar to the classrooms in the building. They all have wall phones and an intercom system is present.

The location of the Mod Pod is right next to the softball field. It is right outside the newer freshman wing. The pod came preassembled and the parts were just put together this summer.

The Mod Pod was needed because of the overfilled classrooms and the rising population of students at the school. With the extra space, there is less chance of unbearable overcrowding.

Theron Stallworth, Assistant Principal, said, “The Pod alleviates the crowding and I hope that it will benefit since everything is done for the good of the students as they are our primary focus so that they can learn.”

When asked if all the rooms are used, Mrs. Pace said, “All the rooms are used every period by the teachers.”

There are several math classes including Algebra 2, Algebra 1 part 1, Geometry and Algebra with Technology that are taught along with study skills and Special Programs. The teachers that have classrooms or teach out there are Pace, Sara McAllister, Michael Wood, Joey Flory, Coach Saunders, Jenny Peterson, Jennifer Alaimo and Patience Wells. So many classes are now taking place outside the school building.

Mrs. Pace said, “The only disadvantage is weather inclement and the effect they may have on teachers and students. Most teachers have to copy tests and stuff that have to be carried to the trailers and if it is raining it will be difficult.”

Because of the sidewalk that leads directly from the school to the trailers, there has not been any problem with the weather. As of now, the Pod is working well and there are not any major problems. Stallworth made sure that the county had followed up with the schools request by doing their job in installing the Mod Pod properly.

“I like to make sure that things are done right,” said Stallworth.