BENNETT: The New High School… Does It Live Up to the Hype?
by Jack Bennett
In a single word–YES. Last Saturday, the new Armstrong Junior-Senior High School was open for self guided tours. Maps and brochures were available to assist you. Yes, there is a “punch list” but let’s give the administration a chance to get things going.
My first impression as my car traverses the final rise on Buffington Drive: how large the building is and how secluded the location is.
Parking, after many passes around the three lots was at a premium. People were streaming into the door ways as quickly as they were coming out.
My first stop was the gym. The shine of the “hard wood” was so deep, you could almost see yourself. The new school colors were very bright and quite tastefully done.
Next stop - the Auditorium. WOW, I thought I was in Cinema X with all the seating.
It even has a “peanut gallery” in the rear of the hall. The Library was spacious inside, but the out-door study area (and view) was spectacular. The classrooms were, what appeared to me, to be neat and orderly with some of the teachers’ desks arranged to the students’ side instead of in the front of the class.
The cafeteria was arranged for the senior high on one side and the junior high on the other. A must I believe for the separation of the students.
The staircase was easy to climb and a center railing making the usage easy and safe.
Refreshments were available for those who had “skipped lunch”. I spotted Mr. Rummel, the principal of the senior-high, greeting visitors to the new school.
It is quite apparent that a lot of planning went into this facility. And, oh yes, the view from the stair well on the second and third floor was breathtaking.
All in all, I would score the new school building a 10+ on a scale of 1 to 10. Now let’s hope all persons involved appreciate and care for the new Armstrong Junior-Senior High School.
IN SEARCH OF BETTER EDUCATION
The views expressed are those of the author.
BENNETT: Commentary | Jack Bennett August 26, 2015
By Just sayin, August 26, 2015 @ 1:13 PM
Even the fountains are awesome, I heard.
Mr. Bennett, I’m sure others will make the ‘punch list’ for you.
The rewind will be pressed again…
By getreal, August 26, 2015 @ 4:07 PM
And let’s hope the custodians do their job in this school unlike the deplorable job that is done in West Shamokin. It’s such a shame that a relatively new school is so filthy and unmanaged ( mostly on the inside)
By rocket, September 11, 2015 @ 7:58 PM
Well… here we go… just like Armstrong Central Junior and Senior High Schools… the logistics still aren’t thought through enough for EVERY KID TO EAT in the 30 minutes that they are allotted! Anyone attend one of these schools and remember that? Lines are too long, there isn’t enough seating, and there aren’t enough service stations available to manage that many kids. HOPEFULLY this gets ironed out!!
As far as custodians… DEAR GETREAL… do you know that every single custodial crew within Armstrong School District has been cut down to a bare minimum? For instance… Elderton Elementary has one custodian all day. WHI- one full time custodian all day. Yeap. So on and so forth. If you are lucky enough to actually survive becoming a full time custodian with the district (which usually you can’t because you barely make a living wage let alone have a full time position) you are worked to death- night, day, and you are now pretty much on your own in a building to manage it all day long if you stay in one building all day!! Now, full time custodians are being split! SO, I’m not saying every custodian is a decent person, with a great personality who works hard- in my years I have run into quite a few with personality issues and work ethics like spoiled children… but most are under appreciated. If any school is dirty- it’s because 1 the principal, teachers and children are disrespectful and lazy and 2- central administration needs to get their priorities in a realistic order!!