2205 Forest Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403 SurveyorWHS@gmail.com crwashsurveyor.com Volume 55, Number 7 Friday, March 23, 2012
Wash readies for renovations lines that we have and the old tra ditional assembly line-type thing. It will be more exposed to some self Continued excellence in acaservice areas in the design of the new demics, arts, and athletics are longkitchen.” held traditions at Washington High The cafeteria is only a fraction School, but the physical tradition of the entire renovation. of the school is soon to see a trans“[With] the rest of the building, I formation as the district draws out think the number one emphasis will renovation plans for Cedar Rapids be on the geothermal system that high schools. will be installed which will allow a “We’ve had some concerns more efficient type of heat and then for the last 10-12 years about the air conditioning to general classaging of our buildings and how we rooms and offices. So those are the were going to take care of it and big changes- that will occur also Costs for the cafeteria renovahandle the situation, so, it’s been on with the renovation of our walls and tions are projected to be around two our mind for a long time and maybe our windows which obviously have million and the entire plan will have even longer…” said Associate Prinnot been the most efficient infraa price tag of a currently unknown cipal Rick Williams, “Based on our structure in this building for quite a amount. The project is largely being one cent sales tax, that was installed while. That then in turn will help the funded by a combination of an anmany years ago, we knew that the geothermal system be more efficient nual school district allocation geared buildings were becoming aged… and as well. New windows, new walls, towards school that it was time to raise money improvements and to facilitate these new facilities revenue created from that we have projected.” the one cent local These renovations, option sales tax. similar to the ones that have al As the entire ready begun at Jefferson High renovation cannot be School, will begin at Wash this completed strictly summer and continue throughover the summer, the out the 2012-2013 school year. plan will cause some The renovations will revolve interruptions next closely around the concepts of year. modernization and increased “Anytime efficiency. that you take two “The first phase of our steps forward, most [renovation] will be the caflikely you’re goeteria which will be renovated ing to have to take and modernized and hopefully one back. So, for a render some efficiency to it,” gray period of time said Williams, “Obviously, as Courtesy of Shive Hattery there’s going to be you know, that the cafeteria A look inside the cafeteria renovation plans for Jefferson, of some distractions has been as it is for the last which Wash will be closely modeled after. around the school,” 50-something years and I think said Williams, “The what the renovations are also whole building will be impacted in going to allow is a little bit more some floors will be changed because some capacity and at some time. I space. The most important thing is to of their locations, new tile- tile will have yet to figure out, along with the upgrade the equipment in the kitchen be taken up and new tile will be laid engineers and the architects, exactly area and then the serving situation in some classrooms, ceilings will be which route they want to go but they will be a lot better than what it is altered some to enhance the energy have asked me to start considering a right now: just the makeshift serving efficiency,” said Williams.
Alyssa Christian Editor-In-Chief
“[The renovation is] not the type of thing that’s going to change our test scores or make better students out of us, but at least you’ll feel better about being here at the school.”
Rick Williams
four to six classroom rotation. So, for a period of time, which I don’t know what it is, I think they’ll have six classrooms to work on those and those exterior walls, the sink, tile, the windows, the ceilings, the floors. And that’s… the strategy they want to take to work during the school days.” Despite any disturbances this project may cause, Williams believes it is a worthwhile and needed overhaul. “Yeah, there’s going to be some distractions but hopefully in the long run I think that staff, students, community will be pleased to see their money in action here,” said Williams. “I have seen some very poor upkeep on some schools in some inner city areas where they don’t have the money [for renovations]. I think in the long run, [poor upkeep] could impact how people feel about their school, which could then in turn impact the academic aspect of it. I don’t know what always goes into people’s minds and what motivates them but it surely can’t hurt any to upgrade the facilities…. It’s not the type of thing that’s going to change our test scores or make better students out of us, but at least you’ll feel better about being here at the school.”
Inside this Issue n e w s
o p i n i o n s
p r o f i l e s
f o c u s
a & e
s p o r t s
Pages 2-4
Pages 5-6
Page 7 &10
Pages 8-9
Pages 11-13 Pages 12-15