CHANGE: Poly is soon to undergo tremendous changes with the new “HVAC” project beginning this school year and pending Long Range Facility Master Plan.
By Dyala Harb, Staff Writer
The Heating, Ventilation and Air Condition (HVAC) project has recently been approved by the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) board and is scheduled to begin in April of 2016 and end in August of 2017. This extensive, $5.5 million project calls for the installation of 15 additional portables on Poly’s campus during the construction phase. The specifications of the schedule for this substantial project have been set, and a diagram of the location of the new portables has already been created. The school will also upgrade its electrical services from April to July in 2016. From April to August 2016, the library will be closed, and HVAC installation will take place in the 500’s building, with affected classes relocated to interim housing. From August until November 2016, installation will begin on the second floor of the 600’s building, and from November 2016 to February 2017, it will take place on the first floor of the 600’s building.
During the construction, entire classes will be moved into the interim units, which will be newly constructed portable classrooms on campus. In addition, some of the staff parking lot will be closed and used as a construction site. “We will have to reduce new parking permits by about 30,” Assistant Principal Brian Frost asserted. Frost also concluded that while the location of AP testing was at one point a concern, construction in the gym will be pushed back into the summer of 2017, meaning that the testing will be unaffected. The project has evoked much enthusiasm for what is to come and appreciation that it will occur.
Many of the responses to the placement of new HVAC units are largely positive. Teachers and students are overjoyed that this process is finally taking place and are delighted to hear that Poly is going to pursue the project. “We are beyond grateful to the district for setting aside so much money for this project,” Mr. Frost stated. “We absolutely need it,” Mr. Oravets expressed. He continued that in the long run, this process is inevitable. One parent revealed that upon visiting Poly once again, he found that the campus hasn’t changed since he graduated in 1990.“I was appalled at the condition of the campus,” he stated. However, many junior and senior students are upset by the fact that the construction is going to occur throughout their final years at Poly, yet won’t be completed until after they have graduated. The staff are providing a list of logistical issues that they feel need to be addressed, and with the construction just around the corner, these ideas will have a great impact. Various perspectives have developed regarding the HVAC project, and it has drawn attention to other issues at Poly as well.
Poly has also been considering undergoing a Long Range Facility Master Plan by WLC Architects, although it has not yet been approved by the RUSD board. On Wednesday, October 14, a community meeting was held at Poly in which an open dialogue ensued surrounding ideas for desired changes at Poly. One of the architects involved in the plan suggested that while Poly’s campus is quite small in comparison to other high schools, site improvements, ground improvements, and technology advancements must be made. The community meeting allowed numerous members in the community to contribute their opinions of what alterations should be made on the campus in order for students to benefit. The meeting began with an inquiry from one of the lead architects, Jim Dicamillo. “What needs to be done to the school?” Dicamillo asked. This question sparked a number of ideas ranging from more storage space to shade structure around the quad areas, a mock trial classroom, renovations to the weight room, a snack bar near the track, and additional restroom facilities across the campus. The ideas were innumerable, and the passion and devotion to making beneficial changes at Poly was quite evident at this meeting. The HVAC project is a great start to improvements being made; furthermore, the Long Range Facility Master Plan will likely follow, making new advancements at Poly inevitable and fast- approaching.