Over the summer the order of Construction plans at RHS has been changed due to space issues.
“We were really debating what we needed to do and ultimately, the construction company they have to have what’s called a laydown area so they have to have a area to put all the supplies for the construction and it takes up a massive amount of space. Principal Ashely Serin said.
“So between the new construction happening in our parking lot for the pool plus the amount of parking spaces they would need for their laydown area it would have left us with, like, not enough parking at all to run a school. So we had to make the decision to get rid of the portables first to create that new parking lot so that we can still function during construction. It is pretty tight right now, we have teachers doubling up in classrooms and we are using every spare space we have as a classroom to be able to make it work until the new building goes in,”
Now that the portables have been removed and the new parking lot has been finished, Serin is moving forward with the rest of the construction.
“So the next stage is in March where we’re gonna break ground on the new pool and that will go in the staff parking lot area that’s in between the Moller Gym and the field. Over next summer were going to be demoing the pool, the pool awning, and the building, all of that is going to get demoed over the summer. Then we’ll be able to start breaking ground on the new classroom building,” Serin said.
Certain teachers have to share classrooms due to the removal of the portables. Some teachers believe this could have some benefits, but also could cause some issues.
“It’s been a little bit of a challenge just scheduling wise and getting our needs met, each of us have different case loads that we have to manage and different teaching responsibilities so just making sure that each of us uses our space in a way that doesn’t impact the other one,” Education Specialist Judi Moneymaker said.
“I think our biggest frustration is that it doesn’t seem to be a streamlined system to set up a new teacher. For example, were in our fifth week of school and she still doesn’t have her own phone even though the request went in in May, so that’s difficult just getting her ready for the first day of school in that room too it was just difficult that way,” Moneymaker said.
“I definitely don’t mind sharing a classroom with another teacher, it hasn’t impacted me too much it is a little bit of a bummer to, you know, have fourth period prep and have another class in there. But the students in there have been really great and the other teacher thats in there is fantastic as well, but sometimes you know you get to the end of the day and its like, you just want to have a little space to yourself but it is what it is,” Education Specialist Kristen Riley said.
Although Moneymaker and Riley are affected by this change, they are excited for the future of the construction.
“Yeah the new classroom building, we’re super excited about that. It will be great to have everyone in my department together, which are kind of spread out right now so room to spread out is gonna be great,” Moneymaker said
“I am excited for the new classroom building. I’m not excited to move again if that’s what’s going to happen. I haven’t been able to unpack this current classroom, so it’ll be kind of a bummer if I have to move again, but, you know we’ll just make it work,” Riley said
Some students and athletes are also affected by this change.
“It kind of sucks for us right now because when I’m a senior we’re not going to have a pool and we’re going to have to go to Oakmont. But it’s good for the next freshmen and sophomores coming in, it makes it much easier for them,” water polo player Jackson Poulson said.
“I believe the expected date is 2027. So they’ll start the demo next summer, and by the time they actually start building and the building is up and running and ready to go it will be 2027,” Serin said.
