As Fine Arts Construction Comes to a Close, Students and Staff Share Thoughts

Students may have noticed the blocked off wing by the fine arts department or the fences protecting the brand new building since it has been under construction since last summer. These areas have been off limits to the students and will continue to be off limits until next school year when the construction comes to an end and all of the fine arts classes are moved into brand new classrooms.

Building manager John Matheny said, “Phase One A, which is the construction is in essence done now, but we are waiting for doors and door frames.”

The fine arts department will be able to move into the new section of the building as soon as the building has doors and door frames. The new section will be labeled and used as the new fine arts department, allowing band, orchestra, and choir, to have more space.

“I honestly think it’s really good because we need more room anyway. There’s a bunch of kids sitting on the floor in choir because there isn’t enough room,” said freshman Maya Flores.

After the fine arts classrooms move into the new building, the art and photography classes will be moved into the old fine arts space. Not only will the art department have much more space and extended walls, the new area will display floor to ceiling showcases for the art. The downstairs computer lab will move into the fine arts department as well. The bigger space will allow art students to do more with their art and have space for bigger projects.

“I think [the new space] will finally allow student to do some of the processes in art that we were not able to do very successfully in a smaller space,” said art teacher Clint Johnson. The big rooms will give students “better lighting and better instructional area.”

After this summer, when the fine arts has moved out and the art and photography has moved in, the school plans to renovate the cafeteria by giving it a new serving line and moving some administrations offices across the commons from where they are now. When the cafeteria is finished, the school plans to renovate and better North’s upper gym, lower gym, and weight room. The weight room will be moved into the downstairs computer lab until the gyms are finished with renovations.

Many departments will be shifted and moved one way or another to better fit their needs, but Johnson is thankful for the space he already has. “I’m very thankful for the space that we have. We have done the best with it that we could. I’m so very thankful that Parkway is supportive of the arts, and I would say the fact that we are getting this new space is only going to make things even better,” said Johnson.

by Mercedes Nesbit, Social Media Mogul