If a student is called to the office these days, they will be asked to come to the “cottages,” the new portable classrooms at Park City High School.
Last week many of the classes at PCHS, and the front office, relocated to the portable classrooms. Principal Hal Smith said the goal is to empty out the east wing and the counseling center by President’s Week, when demolition will start.
The last group of teachers will move out of the main building by Feb. 1 or 2. Smith expects to go through the empty classrooms on Feb. 7 to put remaining supplies in storage. Some items, like white boards, that would not fare well in storage will go down with the demolition.
Many of the portables will remain for the duration of construction. Others will stay until June 2007.
Smith said they would move back at that time, “if we know that the building is ready for occupancy.”
In moving out to the portables they have encountered a few glitches. A maintenance man recently cut a power line when he was snowblowing and accidentally knocked out some of the electricity.
“It’s hard when people have to change, not everything goes as well as you’d like,” Smith said.
He mentioned the students are doing well and have adjusted to the move. Roger Arsht, a journalism and English teacher who recently moved his classroom to the portables concurs with this.
“The students so far have been flexible. Any change is difficult. But teaching is teaching, learning is learning and a classroom is a classroom,” Arsht said.
He added teachers have been cooperative in helping each other move. Many of them have settled in and worked hard to make their portable classrooms as inviting as possible.
“I think we’re going to have awards for the best decorated portables,” Smith joked.
Arsht is happy with the outcome and optimistic about the portable classrooms.
“I think the portables are going to be great. They have everything we need,” he said.