A portable white board located on the east side of the school now indicates the temporary entrance for students and visitors. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – With the opening day of school just about a week away, parents and students are wondering how construction at the Southwick campus will affect them.
Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Superintendent John Barry wrote a letter to families alerting them of several changes, particularly at the high school.
“At the Regional High School, construction began in August and was focused on getting new driveways in place in the front of the school. No other work was completed on the building. However, construction of new classroom space in the front and the rear of the building will continue throughout the school year,” wrote Barry. “For this reason, it is important to understand how access to the high school has changed. Please drive slowly and use caution when driving on this campus. There will be student, staff and bus traffic as well as construction vehicles. Southwick Police officers will be present during the first few weeks of school to enforce traffic.”
The biggest change people will encounter is the new high school entrance. Students and visitors will now enter the school from the student parking lot. Barry said the reception area and security cameras were relocated to this area, and he expects this will remain the only entrance to the school until the middle of next year.
“For the first two weeks of the school year bus and student drop off will remain the same. By mid-September the parking lot closest to the building will not be available and bus and student drop off will be routed into a new driveway further away from the building,” Barry stated. “Reminders will be issued at this time. Student parking is located in the traditional student parking lot. The parking lot furthest from the building is for staff only. Again, please drive carefully and stay on designated walkways to avoid construction areas.”
Although renovations to Powder Mill and Woodland schools began this summer, Barry said the approach to both schools remain the same.
“Everybody will get into those buildings the same way,” he said.
At the Powder Mill School, the focus of the construction is to return the front entrance, cafeteria and library to “school ready” status. Parent drop off routines and bus pick up and drop off will remain the same. No construction work is scheduled during the year. Work will begin next summer on the east wing of the building.
At the Woodland School, the main office, the library and the grade four classroom wing will be returned to “school ready” conditions just before the start of school. There is a new sidewalk leading from the Recreation Center to the school and the normal routine for parent drop off and buses will remain in place. After the start of school, the grade one classroom wing will be completely sealed off from the building so that renovation of this area can proceed during the school year. Half way through the year, this wing will be ready for occupancy and the kindergarten wing will be sealed off for renovations during the late winter and spring. Again, students and staff will be completely separated from any work areas. There will be no other construction work in the building until next summer.
At the Granville Village School, renovations to the front of the building will be completed by the start of the school year. A new front door with appropriate security features will be in place. Revised student hours at the Granville Village School are 8:40 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. There are no changes to parent drop off areas or bus routines.
School opens Aug. 28 for grades 1-12, Preschool and kindergarten orientation is Aug. 29.
Contractors have erected a six-foot chain link fence around the main parking lot of the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School as renovations continue. School officials are notifying parents and students that parking will be restricted to a much smaller area around the school. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
