Flurry of Summer Renovations Greets Returning Hornets

The gym locker rooms received new lockers over the summer. Photo: Ani Kuke

By ANI KUKE

What’s buzzin’, Midwood? Follow the noise and it’ll lead you to the source: electric screwdrivers. One bolt and screw at a time, custodians and construction workers have been fastening the final touches, ensuring all Hornets return this school year to a sleeker and safer environment.

The school underwent many renovations to both the interior and exterior of the building from the spring of 2019 to the fall of 2021, behind a collective effort from the administration, including AP of Organization Alan Stack, Principal Michael McDonnell, and AP of Physical Education Anthony Odita. Coordinator of Student Affairs Lawrence Kolotkin, alongside the student government, also played a role in developing and presenting new ideas and designs that, after approval and consideration of cost, were set into motion.

It wasn’t until recently that the bigger projects were finished, as they couldn’t be done with students in the building. But ironically, when Midwood was forced to shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic during 2020-2021, opportunities for new projects opened up. One of them was the renovation of the girls’ and boys’ locker rooms. 

“The biggest problem with the locker rooms was that we couldn’t do it during the year because kids were using them,” said Mr. Stack. “Then, all of a sudden last year, we had the window to get them done.”

Entering the locker rooms, students may first notice the sleek blue lockers that have taken the place of the old black ones with broken doors. With the new remodel, the two rows of lockers were replaced with three, increasing their number by over 50%. Some students are thrilled by this, as they will not have to share a locker with a possible stranger during gym. 

“In my freshman year, I had to share my locker with someone I didn’t even know,” said junior Jaclyn Gendler. “Since only I knew the combination of my lock, I’d have to wait for her sometimes when she’d come in late. I am glad to see that I can have my own space now that I can hopefully use when the lockers open up again.” For now, students have to wait to enjoy the new lockers as social distancing requirements currently keep them off-limits.

With a focus on enhancing Midwood students’ physical education experience, the gym floors were redone as well. The C and G gyms’ floors had not been renovated in years, but Mr. Stack and Mr. Odita ensured that they were stripped, sanded, and repainted last year.

“Since now, I, alongside other students, have to spend 45 minutes every school day sitting on the floors for gym, it makes me feel comfortable knowing that the wooden floors were newly redone,” said senior Jason Askri.

Smaller areas of the school also got some attention. Mr. Kolotkin, alongside drama teacher Ms. Elizabeth Bommarito, arranged for the installation of a 12-foot by 8-foot stage with a 2-foot elevation in the drama room, 346A. 

This project initially began in March 2021 with a 2D blueprint. Five months later, the stage was brought into 3D form and was immediately put to use by drama teachers Ms. Anasuya Mack and Ms. Shiavonne Manswell. Their students use it for plays, monologues, and group work.

“We use that stage three times a day,” said Ms. Manswell. “If we are not just doing verbal communication, I want them on the stage because I want them to be expressive with characters that are outside of their normal selves. The world is not just limited to this mask and the silences that they felt within the past year. There is nothing normal about how life has been the past year, and the stage is a place of expression where you can be loud about life without being judged.”

Some drama students are still adjusting to the experience of being in the spotlight. 

“I’m nervous because I haven’t performed in front of many people for some time,” said Frances Kestel, a senior. “But I’m also excited to use it because it will help me get out of my comfort zone and gain more confidence on stage with public speaking in front of a real-life audience.”

Several renovations also took place to establish a safer environment for Midwood students. With the addition of new, sturdy classroom doors, a process that took place from spring 2019 to mid-2020, teachers can now instantly lock their doors with the swipe of a switch.

Lucas Paschke ‘23 said, “As a student, I feel safer because if there was an actual threat in the school there would be no mishaps.”

“I remember during freshman year, locking the doors during drills took like two minutes because teachers had to search for the right key, but in an emergency, those two extra minutes can mean something,” he added. 

All these repairs came with a big price tag. Approximately $550,000 was spent on the doors alone. The Wi-Fi was also upgraded and the robotics lab received two new 3D printers.

Even with these endeavors, some students argue that there is more work that needs to be done. While Mr. Stack was able to arrange for $200,000 to replace some of the mold-stained ceilings in the classrooms, others are still awaiting the next long break.

“In my AP Physics room in the first-floor of the annex, there are giant holes in the ceiling panels,” said Paschke. “It was raining outside [in October], and we had to call the custodian to cover the SMARTBoards with plastic. My teacher and my classmates had to move things away from the water leak.”

Askri would like to see the bathrooms get renovated. “Currently, there is a single boy’s restroom on the basement level, and the urinals are far too low, especially for me, as a tall student,” he said. “If it’s an emergency and the stalls are occupied, it’s even harder to migrate to the other restroom in the annex to use it. Also, the mirror is like a reflective piece of tinfoil.” 

In a building as old as Midwood’s, which first opened in 1940, even 18 months is not enough time to fix everything. But the staff said they’re committed to making the appropriate changes and accommodations.

Mr. Stack said, “We should always be renovating and evolving so things can be more appealing for all of us.”