Over the summer, Florida High has been making numerous improvements to its campus, including renovations to the playground, buildings and baseball and softball fields.
“Of the current renovations that are taking place, the biggest one right now is our playground,” Executive Director Dr. Christopher Small said. “The hope is that it will be done by the end of August, but we’re replacing all of the mulch that has been there for years and years with a rubber foundation that is fall-safe to prevent accidents.”
The improvements to the playground will not only benefit the younger students playing on it, but they will also positively impact the environment and appearance of the school. The grass on campus is also being upgraded, which will help create a more welcoming space for families and visitors.
“It will help our school look more modern and have a better appeal to everyone who comes,” sophomore Allison Wolfgang said. “Appearance is the first impression on anyone who comes to our school, so it needs to look nice.”
While the renovations have improved the appearance of the school, construction noise has been kept to a minimum. Some classrooms may have been more affected by the construction than others, such as classrooms in the portables that are directly next to the construction.
“I don’t think they’re affecting my teaching at all,” social studies teacher Jeremy Mello, whose classroom is located near the construction, said. “We’re always talking. My class is usually so loud that we don’t hear any of the renovations, but when it’s quiet, I can hear it sometimes.”
With all the effort being put into these renovations, combined with further improvements planned for the future, Florida High staff hopes that the environment will benefit the students and community.
“We’re also planning to paint our buildings,” Dr. Small said. “Some other stuff that’s on the radar [is] the grass, painting all of our buildings and then replacing lights and sound in the auditorium, as well as in our classrooms.”
