The Chatfield High School was a brown on brown low brick building reminiscent of the architecture of the 1960s. Structurally sound but lacking the infrastructure to promote educational advancements, it needed updating. Today it has a sleek, industrial look with many textures and colors that reflect a fresh modern makeover.
It has been a long process for the Chatfield community to take a 1960s building that was structurally sound to a building that will take the high school into educational and physical soundness for the next 50 years. Back in 2014, the district engaged in some big picture, strategic planning. One of the outcomes of that effort was to form a task force of community members to draft a long term financial and facilities plan, as there were concerns regarding the operating budget and the high school facility. From that planning, a facilities task force was developed that recommended that a high school project be brought forth to the voters. The high school’s age was a concern from both a maintenance and teaching/learning perspective. In November 2015, a 19 million dollar high school renovation and maintenance project was brought to the voters but did not pass. The facility task force went back to work and brought a reduced project forward in November 2016 of 13.5 million dollars, of which 10.8 million had local tax impact and the rest would be state maintenance revenue having no local tax impact. The voters passed this project. Construction began in June 2017 and continued on through two summers and a full school year. While some areas are not completely finished, the main educational areas are being used today. A few exterior projects will be completed in the spring.
Last school year, students and staff were able to start the year with completely revamped rooms. New carpet on the floor and new adjustable and moveable desks replaced the tile flooring and rigid desks. Technologically, the rooms were upgraded with Smart 6000 large screen TVs and classroom audio systems that amplify the teacher’s voice to allow for a more comfortable listening experience for the entire class, especially in the larger science classrooms. New windows were added this summer to complete the classroom updates.
Probably the shining star of the renovation is the new media center, now called the LINC (Learning and Information Networking Center). Walking into this area with skylights and large windows facing the courtyard, one might think they were in a college setting. Students have a myriad of different spaces to use, whether it is in one of the breakout rooms for small group work, reading in an alcove, or sitting on a couch with a small table working on their laptop. The stacks are concentrated in one area, leaving more space in the interior. Mitch Lee, online class instructor and Regan Little, LINC assistant, say the experience for kids is extremely different and the setting is more relaxed and comfortable. Because of the many seating options, it is an excellent place for students to study. They report the small breakout rooms are in constant use and can see where the larger rooms will be a great asset for student collaboration for group work. Background music completes the experience and both Lee and Little said this actually promotes a quieter atmosphere, as students voices are lowered as they work with each other.
Four existing classrooms were used to create two new science rooms that were completed in late fall 2017. Nora Gathje and Stacie Conway, teachers in these rooms, extol the virtues of having enough space for storage and also the room to set up labs for the multiple classes taught daily. Flexibility is another asset to these rooms as the large room has two areas, lab and classroom. Students are able to flow easily from lab to classroom as they work with their lab partners. Large lab tables allow them to collaborate and have face to face interactions. Safety features also added to these rooms were a fume hood, chemical shower, clear aisles and a prep room for safer chemical storage.
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) addition was completed this summer and most of the equipment is in place. The goal of this new space is to promote jobs and careers in the trades. Tim Willette, agriculture teacher, explained that the biggest asset to the new addition is the flexibility it gives his students, as the room can be set up for two different classes. His classroom has windows that look out into the shop area. A finishing room with an exhaust fan in one corner allows students to safely apply finish to their projects. The eight welding and acetylene booths each have individual venting. New machinery added to enhance the careers curriculum are a laser engraver, CNC plasma cutter, wood planer, spindle and edge sander, and a panel saw. In a separate room away from dust is a 3-D printer. A mezzanine area accessed by a stairway was built to store supplies and band equipment and also houses the compressor. A large 14-foot clear overhead door accommodates larger projects while allowing natural lighting into this area. It also allows easy access to a storage garage across from the building that is used for greenhouse equipment, steel supplies and FFA exhibits. Another room in this area is a classroom occupied by agriculture teacher Stacy Fritz. She cites the flow of the room is much better, more efficient and safer, especially for her food labs. The placement of the food labs at the back of the room allows for fewer disruptions to the classroom. The quality of the technology and additional television sets in this room allow more than one judging team to practice at a time.
The forum which is a carpeted multi-level level lecture style room replaces the large group/study hall room. It is set up to handle audio visual presentations, group testing, lecturing, and is the new home for school board meetings. Another room that was repurposed is the Focus ALP (Alternative Learning Program) room. Formerly housed in a classroom that had no windows, it now they has a larger room with windows, allowing the program to include ninth grade students. Added to this room was a “quiet room” for when students need some down time and a kitchenette that will allow the instructor, Dave Hinck, to possibly offer a cooking credit. Hinck said the students love the new surroundings and have reacted very positively.
The kitchen/cafeteria area is in the same area but has undergone a major renovation. Most of the equipment is new, cold storage is now all inside the building, and it now has two lines for serving. More options for meals are now available and for a special “create your own” bar and display cooking. The addition of another line allows grades 9-12 to eat at the same time, in less time. A senior/junior lunch room was opened in the area that used to be a girls’ locker room. This room can also be used as a meeting space with audio/visual capabilities. With seventh and eighth grade eating separately and many options for seating, the lunchroom has become a pleasant place for students during their lunch.
The entire building now has LED lighting, which makes hallways brighter and other areas more comfortable. New student lockers are three inches wider to accommodate the large backpacks that were not in existence in the 1960s. Exterior doors were replaced with all-glass ones that allow more natural light into the building. The look of the exterior of the building has changed dramatically. Some parts of the building are clad in blackish gray metal to add insulation in areas that were lacking. Maroon metal cladding has been used as an accent to break up the brick and at entrances. What was once brown brick has been stained gray or taupe. What a visitor may not see are the improvements to the physical plant. The oldest sections of the roofs were replaced and all electrical services are now up to code. Some HVAC units were replaced and more were added to increase efficiency.
Security precautions at the high school were not overlooked. All doors, both interior and exterior, were replaced. Interior classroom doors can now be locked from the inside of the room. All-glass exterior doors allow for better sight of vision from the interior. Lockdown capabilities have also been improved. Doors are locked during school hours and if a door is open for an extended amount of time an alarm is sounded in the office. More and improved lighting has been added to the exterior of the building.
The high school gym had a major makeover also. The stage was enclosed and is now a storage area. The floor was stripped down to the wood and refinished and a new design was painted on the floor. Lastly, the ventilation system and the audio/video systems were upgraded. The multi-purpose room that has served as a wrestling room will now be available for other uses. The wrestlers now have their own area, which was formerly part of the agriculture shop. Travis Bartels, head wrestling coach, said that having their own space gives the team a sense of ownership and is able to meet the needs of both the high school and elementary programs. Mats do not have to be rolled up and put away each day, allowing them to practice and be home at a reasonable time in the evening. Bartels feels this new room is one of the best in the area. Last to be completed and still in transition from the construction is the fitness room. Rubber matting has been put down and equipment is being transferred or set-up in this new area.
An open house has been scheduled for November 29 from 5-7 p.m. so that district patrons may tour the building. As a special “thank you,” the district is also serving a meal from 5-6:30 p.m.
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