“Summer break” had a slightly shorter meaning for faculty this year, as many staff members began the school year setting up long-awaited classrooms and offices from the bond project.  

Bond construction, largely completed now, has given the business, fine arts, and FACS departments several additional classrooms, and updated offices to administration and clerical staff.

The new spaces, though ultimately beneficial, put a significant amount of pressure on faculty to move in before the start of the school year, in addition to regular beginning-of-the-year duties.

The short timeline meant that many staff members called in all available resources to help move: students involved in band and journalism came in during their summer break to assist their respective teachers.

Some faculty even brought family members in to help with the move.

“We’re at a fast and furious pace of moving in,” administrator Walter Givens said on Aug. 10 “and so hopefully we’ll be ready by Monday.”

The effects of the move were not limited to the end of summer, however. As the offices were redone, administrators and clerical staff were required to temporarily set up in B hall classrooms. The transition back to new offices has been difficult for staff members whose jobs require a stable work environment.

“It’s been a lot of work to get everything back [into the office],” registrar Mary Lea said, “and it’s been very stressful because we had to do enrollment down out of a classroom, and the work continues; we continue having new people every day, all day long… it’s just a little bit hectic.”

However, the stress of moving into new classrooms and offices is far outweighed by the benefits these spaces will provide, according to business teacher Jeff Darr.

One significant improvement in the business and FACS halls is the addition of floor-to-ceiling walls, eliminating the former “open-concept” design from the days when Northwest was first built.

“It is so nice [to have walls],” FACS teacher Alison Draut said. “Before it was sometimes interesting to hear the other classroom or the other teacher talking or a movie, and now those issues should be more limited.”

Draut, among many others, is excited by the possibilities of her new culinary classroom.

“[It] is a great addition to Northwest. I’m really excited to be in this new room,” Draut said. “I think this will help my students possibly feel more professional in the classroom and in their labs, so they can also think the sky’s the limit.”