By Andrin Bär, Editor
UPDATE: What can be expected from the Poly community upon return to campus?
With students from Poly High School being stuck at home, it is easy to forget about the campus they’ve left behind. What few may realise is that the campus they return to when the stay-at home orders lift is going to be very different from the campus they attended last year. Changes to the campus itself, in the form of numerous construction projects, had been extensively discussed last year, but one thing holding back these changes from being implemented was the fact that students would have to attend campus during construction, severely slowing down progress and causing distraction in the classroom environment. However, with a lack of students due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school has found a perfect opportunity to get to work on the new campus. But it isn’t all construction, students will also face changes when returning to campus in the form of numerous health and safety changes due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. So what should students expect if and when we return? This issue, Poly Spotlight Editor Andrin Bar interviewed Mr. Darel Hansen to find out.
To begin, Hansen was asked about health and safety precautions that students should expect when returning to campus. Hansen replied, saying that when the school opens, it “…will follow and adhere to all regulations from [the] county health department,” adding that “Students should expect to wear masks and maintain social distancing [and] hand sanitiser stations have already been placed at the entrance of all buildings.” In addition, directional paths of travel have been created to allow students to travel from class to class whilst maintaining social distancing. In other words, gone is the 600 building hallway at lunch. Desk guards have also been ordered for students, so expect to see your teachers in a whole new way…well, through a sheet of plastic that is. But the greatest concern with opening up the school campus during this global pandemic is the number of students that will attend. With more students on campus at one time, the chance of the school becoming a new epicentre for the coronavirus outbreak is a genuine factor to consider. In order to combat concern, Hansen explained “…we move through the return stages that the board of education previously approved, students have already been placed in groups A and B. This will help us manage the number of students in each classroom.” So upon return, expect class sizes to shrink. Further questions have arisen concerning days of attendance. After all, who doesn’t want to know how many days per week they will be on campus? Well, to anyone who was hoping for 5 days a week on campus, you’ll have to wait a bit, as Hansen explained “ The board approved a phased return to school plan that brings students back starting at 1 day a week, eventually moving to 2 days and then 5 days a week when it is deemed safe.” In other words, for anyone missing Poly, don’t worry, you will get at least one day a week on campus, and that number will increase as conditions become safer. Whilst these are current precautions, Hansen stressed that “[The school] will continue to review all plans [and] work with [the] district office [to] adhere to all regulations required by our county health department,” so don’t take everything here for granted. Still, it would appear the school is more than prepared to ensure the safety of its students during the global pandemic.
But of course, the health and safety precautions are not the only change coming to Poly. Poly High School is getting a major facelift this year. Hansen detailed the changes, explaining “Basically, the entire interior of the campus is being renovated,” and “renovated” is an understatement. The 800 quads are taking on a new look, the lower area of campus will have new seating areas, with the grassy hill being replaced with concrete stadium seating, new stairs are being built for the library, a ramp leads to the back door of the library, the upper level of the 500 building is wider, allowing for easier movement. Gone is the senior lawn, replaced with a new entryway into the gym and a shaded outdoor amphitheatre, with a decorative bear symbol planned to be projected onto the ground when the sun shines on the school. The theatre is getting an outdoor extension, with a shaded seating area and an outdoor amphitheatre, just like the Greeks once had. Thespians can rest easy knowing their beloved theatre will be better than ever! Poly campus as we know it is changing for the better. For seniors this year, we are almost jealous of the incoming freshmen, as they will be greeted with a gorgeous new campus. Phase 1 of the campus “renovation” (detailed above) was scheduled to be completed in August of 2021. However, with the coronavirus pandemic, construction was actually able to begin 3 months early, and completion of Phase 1 will likely occur in April 2021, with rumours of early completion by January 2021. After Phase 1 is complete, the construction team will move on to Phase II, which will be a new auxiliary gymnasium, and potentially more parking spaces, set to take place over the Spring 2021 break.
Some may question whether these changes are justified. Wasn’t the poly campus good to begin with? Well, it was a decent campus, but there’s a few problems that have come about as a result of 55 years worth of time passing. As Hansen explains “Our current site opened in 1965 and a number of things have changed over the past 55 years. Two points to consider is the increase in the student body over these years and the change in ADA (American Disabilities Act) requirements.” But this construction of campus is expensive, and there is a reason it took this long to begin. Hansen explained that “Approximately 5 years ago [Riverside] communities passed the Measure O tax initiative helping to fund the upgrades to school facilities across our district.” The Measure O tax initiative added 1% to sales tax, which would go toward updating campuses and classrooms across the district. Thanks to this money, Poly High School was given a budget of $24,039,894.00 to aid in campus updates in order to satisfy the ADA requirements. Since this would require massive construction, the school decided to make the most of it and update the old campus, and give it a new look, and we can be glad they did, because the plans for the new school certainly look exciting.
To close, Mr Hansen wishes to tell students who are worried about returning to campus that “We all recognise that this global pandemic has changed the normal that we [were] used to. The Riverside Unified School District office and the Board of Education [have] worked to put together a return to school plan to help ensure that we do all we can to keep students safe…As a district and [as a] site we are monitoring and adhering to all regulations from the State of California and the Riverside County Health Department.” In other words, to students questioning whether our return to school will be safe, know that the Riverside Unified School District, as well as the Board of Education are doing everything they can to keep students healthy. If we do return to campus, rest assured that the Poly High School community will continue to try and stay safe during these uncertain times. Now, whether we should go back or not? That is still up for debate.
To learn more about COVID-19, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html