Ramin Bajoghli, a senior at Lee High School, was suddenly having a hard time finding his way around the school, and he wasn't alone.
Springfield High School is in the midst of a $36 million renovation project that keeps the students and faculty on their toes.
"At first it was hard knowing where to go because classes changed," said Bajoghli, the Student Government Association president. "Now everyone is real excited about it. It's a totally new look."
The first phase of construction finished in February and resulted in a new business wing upstairs, entranceway to the school, math lab, computer lab, media center and a two-story addition. The second phase involves the new administration offices and a learning-disabled wing.
"We're about midway through the project, and it has been a juggling act trying to maintain the integrity of learning," said John Scott, the Fairfax County Public Schools liaison among the school, planning staff and contractor. "We moved 12 social-studies classes, for example, into empty rooms and trailers. We have 19 trailers."
The county schools system is in the process of renovating five high schools and projects the work will be completed by FY ‘05.
BUT AS THE WORK GOES on, students and staff get to see all the moving, juggling and confusion turn into new classrooms, labs and cleaner, brighter hallways, such as the case with the old social-studies wing, which for a couple of weeks now has been the revamped business wing.
To celebrate the completion of Phase 1, the school had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new entranceway, complete with cake.
"When the classrooms opened, it was jaw-dropping. There is so much light," Bajoghli said. "My favorite is the entrance. I haven't seen another one like that."
The administration has regular meetings with the SGA in an effort to keep the students informed of what has been, and more importantly, what will be going on. The SGA members have stepped up by wearing their T-shirts, so students can see them and ask directions when they find a hallway blocked or and exit closed.
Bajoghli said so far the biggest inconvenience was over the summer, when Lee was hosting a leadership conference and the water was turned off.
"The kids have been great, been upbeat. The kids are positive about what is going on," said art teacher Giovanna DeSantis. "It's inconvenient to have the building blocked off, but it is worth the wait for a nicer climate around the kids."
DeSantis received her new classroom a couple years ago and said the difference is amazing and provides her an opportunity to teach in a dust-free area.
Priscille Dando, the librarian, on the other hand, is still settling into the new media center, which includes 55 computers for student use, a lab, television studio, more shelf space, as well as new furniture, windows, skylights and carpeting.
"We had 23,000 books we had to move in, and we only had a stocking permit. So three people unpacked everything. It took three weeks to unpack, then we had to wait for the inspection and get our occupancy permit," Dando said. "We've been open for two weeks."
FOR PRINCIPAL DON THURSTON, this project is his third renovation project at a school, so he has some idea what to expect. Even still, he says there are unforeseen challenges.
"The most important thing is working together, so the construction doesn't interfere with the instructional program," Thurston said. "There are challenges though, like the fire alarm going off and it has nothing to do with the alarm. It's the construction."
Safety, however, has not presented a problem because students, parents and staff have all pitched in to make sure things continue as normally as possible. Thurston said, for example, while the work was being done on the main entrance, there were 1,800 students having to use entrances and exits all over the school, but there was not a single problem.
"School security plans have changed. We work closely with the School Resource Officer, and all construction workers must be badged," Scott said. However, some of the security measures are a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and not related to the construction work.
For the construction workers, the job can be a challenge as well, or at the least completely different from working on a house or business.
"The main difference is the quality and care we have to take with the students and personnel, and we have to be aware of safety issues," said Tony Cantler, supervisor with R.J. Crowley, which is doing the work. "We have to avoid contact with the students and staff, but the renovation project requires us to work in proximity of them."
Temporary walls are often the solution to allowing the construction workers to continue doing their job and keeping students and staff from wandering into unsafe areas or blocking sound and dust.
"As long as the school is safe and secure, I have to live through this, too," Thurston said.