Whose Idea Was This?
What does the School for the Blind do with the over $2 million from the state? Renovate the area known as Community High School. This wing of the School for the Blind building was in dire need of updating. It gives the school the ability to reach the building’s full potential by having the space used in a more efficient manner. The staff at Community has the ability to set the school up and give every teacher a classroom. But whose idea was it to do this remodel? Where did the money come from?
Several people were instrumental in this task. It was not only the idea of superintendent Dr. Nybladh but many other individuals who work for the state government, including state senator Ray Holmberg. Nybladh noted that updating Community has been on his radar since he came to the job in 2008. “ It’s a much need renovation, the school was very outdated.”
Most of the students and staff would agree that the school was in much-needed repair. In a 2010 facilities usage report, consultant Roger Worner also stated that the current building which houses Community was “subpar.”
Worner’s Organizational Analysis Study stated that many of the classrooms were of poor quality and were poorly planned. “The science rooms are not up to modern day materials, the media center is very small, and the kitchen shares space with the art room.”
By noting the inadequacies of the school to house its current population, Worner sparked the idea to renovate or relocate Community. Nybladh said district officials looked at and considered several locations but none were adequate to house a school.
Nybladh and principal Terry Bohan have devoted significant time over the last couple of years working to make the dream a reality. Nybladh said, “I have spent hundreds of hours the last couple of years and worked with every group involved in this. This is something I can be really proud of.”
Many of the staff members of Community feel the same away. They appreciate the work done by Senator Holmberg and others who were instrumental in securing the needed funds for the project.
Nybladh was relieved and excited when he knew the money had been allocated by the state legislature at the end of their session in 2013. “I’m excited. It’s been along time coming. I have been working on this project for awhile, but it’s worth the work.”
The current construction at Community wasn’t just one person’s idea, it was the idea of many. It didn’t happen overnight, it took years of preparation and planning. At the moment things may be hectic, but when looking to the future, staff knows it will make all this malarkey worth it.
by Brett Beckstead