IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Winter 2019 | Page 56

Brentwood
Borough
School
District
SUPERINTENDENT’S
M E S S A G E
BY DR . AMY M. BURCH
Last year the District took the first steps to updating the rapidly
deteriorating infrastructure of our schools. Five million dollars
was borrowed to work on emergency projects. The first phase
of projects is nearing the end, and we are preparing to move
on to the second phase. One of the upcoming projects that we
are especially excited about is
the renovation of our libraries.
A great deal of time is being
devoted to defining the purpose
for classrooms and libraries.
Dr. Betler was charged with
identifying and scheduling tours
of newly renovated or newly
built libraries and classrooms.
The tour was dubbed, The
Reimagine Learning Tour and
began in August with visits to
Thomas Jefferson’s High School, Baldwin Library, and Montour
Elementary School. Students, parents, teachers, administrators,
community members, and school board members participated.
After visiting each location, the team noted the purpose of each
space, the colors used, the equipment installed, and the materials
selected. The second part of the Reimagine Learning Tour led to
the Carnegie Science Center and Randyland. Once again, the
discussion involved identifying purpose of the space and material
selection.
During the debriefing session in October, it was determined
that identifying our purpose for the space must occur first and
only after that can we begin to
discuss the physical space of
the rooms and the materials
to furnish them rooms. Each
building may have a different
purpose. A common theme
heard throughout the visits
was that the purpose of
libraries and classrooms has
changed. Libraries evolved into
community gathering spaces.
Classrooms are being designed
to inspire collaboration and innovation.
Follow-up meetings will occur in the months to come. There is
also intent to borrow ten million dollars in early 2020 to continue
the renovation of the buildings. A special thank you, to Dr. Betler
and each of the host locations. It is by sharing stories that we can
learn and grow.
SCHOOL BOARD MESSAGE
You may have noticed construction
going on at the Middle/High School or
Moore Elementary, and the emergency
construction projects that had to
happen this year are nearing completion.
Renovations are never easy, and we’re
finding that out when the contractors start
digging or removing walls and ceilings.
Some prior work was not done properly,
and we’re having to address those issues before going on to
yet even more projects. We’re fortunate to have HHSDR as our
architects and engineers, as the board is confident that all this
work will be done well and will ensure our structures last for
generations.
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BRENTWOOD-BALDWIN-WHITEHALL
These types of issues that arise, of course,
affect the amount of work we will be able to
accomplish in the next few years. Our school
board has made a commitment to make
the necessary renovations while staying
within the repayment structure established
prior to the first borrowing. We are a smaller
district than some of our neighbors, but
we’re in better financial footing than many
of them because of the good management our administration has
exercised over the last decade. That allows us to add significantly
to the security and permanence of our facilities.
The school board welcomes your questions about the ongoing
renovations, so attend one of our meetings and find out what
plans are ahead for our district.