With every new school year, there are always new aspects, whether it be new teachers, classes, or students. But students and staff alike were forced to deal with almost an overwhelming amount of changes, from the new space to technology issues, to two new administrators.

Easing into the changes from the new construction

Courtesy of the work of the construction crew this past year and summer, the addition has given the school over 30 new classrooms and extra hall space in order to allow for the growing student population.

With construction and the addition of new space does come frustrations, such as the absence of intercom and projector systems in the C-wing for the first month of school.

“At the beginning of the year we had a lot of issues with changing classrooms and not having everything ready,” principal Tobie Waldeck said. “It wasn’t anyone’s fault. We just had to work around the changes.”

Even though there are frustrations, the remodel has been ultimately successful.

“We have released pressure in the hallways to allow for growth,” Waldeck said. “The changes overall basically improve an already quality facility.”

Besides adjusting to a refurbished facility, staff and students also have to adjust to Waldeck himself.

“Teachers have had to adjust to me and all my questions and not knowing everything,” Waldek said. “They’ve gone through a lot.”

Waldeck has had the challenge of taking on a new system of running a school and molding it to fit his own standards. Running the school is a learning process.

“My goals for myself are to learn and to earn trust and respect,” Waldeck said. “There’s a lot I need to learn and a lot I don’t know. I need to learn about it and respect it. This is the same thing I told staff at the beginning of the year. Student safety and student growth are my main priorities for the school. This will be the same as every single year to come that I work here.”

In addition to a new principal, there is a new assistant principal, Matt Fedde. Fedde worked last year at Monticello Trails alongside Waldeck and is now the director of athletics and activities. Before working at the middle school, Fedde was a technology teacher here.

“Working at the high school is not much different than the middle school, but it is a bigger scope, and definitely busier,” Fedde said. “I am more adjusted to high school kids though. It’s a more comfortable situation.”

Just like Waldek, Fedde has had to not only deal with having a new job, but also trying to help the entire school adjust to the changes.

“We just need to have patience,” Fedde said. “The changes are very frustrating for everyone but we need to keep in mind that we should just focus on controlling the things we can.”

Fedde says he is definitely thankful for all the work that has been done for the school despite some minor problems in the beginning of the year.

“I appreciate the effort of the technology group getting everything set up,” Fedde said. “I’m also looking forward to the new [security] cameras. They don’t stop people from doing things, but they let us identify people who do and help us try to keep the building in good condition.”

Both of the new administrators are happy with the transition they have had to make this year

“I’ve been pleased that the kids have been very nice to me,” Waldeck said. “Everybody’s made me feel welcome.”

Technology set-up slows beginning transition

Many teachers have had to deal with the changing of classrooms because of the renovations, including technology teacher Mark Chipman.

“The issue with the technology for the first few weeks was just the slowness. It took so long to get everything up and running,” Chipman said.

The computers and monitors in the technology rooms, including Chipman’s, were not hooked up for the first couple weeks of school. For the first few classes Chipman had to be creative in how to teach his class, since his classes are all computer based.

“We honestly didn’t do too much, a lot of creative thinking exercises,” Chipman said.

Now that all the computers are hooked up and working properly though, Chipman is thankful for the changes.

“The technology team is now very efficient that they’ve gotten everything set up,” Chipman said.

Students have also had to face many issues with the delay in technology set up, especially the Broadcast I and II classes. Broadcast students were given all new equipment to work with this year, including new cameras, microphones, lights, and even a new green screen to help create a more professional news show.

Despite all the new equipment, broadcast students have had difficulty setting all the new systems, programs, and software up, in addition to learning how to use all the new gear.

“All the pieces are there,” broadcast senior Aaron Harrington said. “It’s just not put together.”

The other major frustration the broadcast class has had to deal with that Harrington pointed out is the fact that one of the central vents is located right above the filming area in the broadcast room.

“Every time we broadcast live this year we will have to turn off the air conditioning in the building, which is kind of a hassle,” Harrington said.

Regardless of the various hassles, Harrington and the other broadcast students try to keep the complaining to a minimum. The broadcast team appreciates the new equipment.

“We’re really thankful for all the support from the board,” Harrington said. “It’s so awesome to have all this new equipment to work with.”

Despite numerous complaints throughout the first month of school, students and staff alike have been able to successfully adjust to the changes made from the new administration to the addition of the C-wing to the additional changes in technology.