SEBASTIAN — It was a bittersweet tour for current eighth graders as they walked the halls of the new Sebastian Charter Junior High building. Smiles flashed across the faces of students as they looked at the freshly painted lockers and sat in the new chairs in the new science room.
Some joked that they wished they were held back so they would be able to take classes in the new building.
“It’s going to be like going from a mobile home to a palace,” said Principal Martha McAdams.
Students and faculty toured the new campus after a morning of exams.
“This is for you, a sneak preview,” said Architect Amy Banov.
It still feels surreal to Principal McAdams.
“It seems like somebody else’s school until we’re in there,” said McAdams.
The new building will be 18,600-square-feet increasing their total footprint to over 20,000-square-feet. Students were warned before the tour to be careful because work is still being completed.
“It’s really nice in here,” said Math Teacher Marvel Nolan.
The school will be hiring six new teachers, replacing some who are retiring, and adding a few more. They are projecting an increase of about 45 students next year and 40 more the year after that.
New programs that will be added are part time art and music classes. Currently those are held after school. Also, there will be a STEM program, science, technology, engineering, and math. Chorus and ensemble will also be held after school.
“The biggest thing they’ll notice is just space,” said Banov.
“This is very rewarding, especially to someone who went to a one-room shack 100 years ago,” joked Kevin Simpson, of Banov Construction, about his education in rural Ohio.
The building will have a new library, science lab, conference room, and an ESE resource room.
“Mr. Chris Library” will be the name of the new library, after Charles Christophersen, a staff member who had passed.
