Renovated Dickson Preparatory
STEAM Academy to Open for 2020-2021 School Year
BY MARIA MILLER
W
Dickson front.
Dickson side. Cafeteria)/Mezzanine.
Media Center. Classroom.
26
WOODLAND HILLS
oodland Hills School District
students in grades 6, 7 and 8
will be greeted at the newly
renovated Dickson Preparatory STEAM
Academy for the 2020-2021 school year.
(The acronym STEAM stands for Science,
Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math).
The building, located at 7301 Schoyer
Avenue in Swissvale, was built in 1928.
The full-building renovation includes:
a new secure vestibule at the main
lobby (complete with a security office,
ballistic glass and bullet-proof walls),
new classrooms and learning labs, a new
music suite, a gym/auditorium hybrid
facility, a STEAM center, rehabilitated and
reinstalled lockers, a full health suite, a
welcoming cafeteria that is overlooked
by an enclosed mezzanine (and outdoor
seating), a new full-service kitchen, a
media center that includes studio space,
gathering areas, technology features,
and more.
In addition to dedicated space for
special education and a resource room,
there are also now rooms available for
small group meetings, social workers
and other needs. Classrooms are located
on the second and third floors, and all
have been updated.
With a, nearly, 100-year-old building,
other needs were also addressed,
including updates to HVAC and asbestos
remediation, LED-lighting throughout
and many other functional updates.
Improvements were made outside as
well. A parking lot was added that will
ensure that there is adequate access,
asphalt paving, a cafeteria patio for
outdoor seating, a front plaza for
outdoor educational use, and new
sidewalks.
“The school is beautiful inside and out.
I believe the greatest excitement will be
in the area of STEAM,” says James Harris,
Superintendent.
Jamie Glasser, School Board President,
adds “We want students to feel like
school is their second home, and a place
that is where their curiosity is fed and
nurtured. The newly renovated building