MOVING DAY AT BHS
$6.2 million addition now open
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Blacksburg High School science teacher Kristi Crater traditionally celebrates Halloween with an elaborate science lab filled with colorful mixtures and ends the day's experiments with a dramatic methane mamba chemical reaction.

Her imagination has been limited only by the cramped laboratory space and time restraints of a regular class period inside Blacksburg High. That will change now that Crater has moved into a science classroom in a new ninth grade addition next to the school.

"All of the science teachers are very excited about our new laboratories and classrooms in the new building," Crater said. "Both of the classrooms are equipped with lab desks and plenty of work benches to allow ample space for both lab activities and group activities."

The classrooms in the ninth grade addition are equipped with some of the latest classroom technology. There are Promethean interactive boards, LCD projectors and document cameras to help teachers with lessons.

"All of this along with the fact that the rooms are beautiful, make both the teachers and the students very excited to use our new lab," Crater said.

Blacksburg High School ninth graders attended classes for the first time Monday in a new ninth grade addition built next to the school cafeteria.

Students attended their first classes Monday in the ninth grade addition. Some students spent part of the weekend helping their teachers move furniture into the $6.2 million facility.

Originally scheduled for completion in October, the school district postponed moving into the ninth grade addition until the construction project was finished.

The district decided last week to let students and teachers use the facility. Contractor Randolph Builders of Charlotte will return June 9 to correct any problems.

"Blacksburg High Principal Jim Touchberry promised the ninth grade students that they would be in the ninth grade addition this school year. Jim felt it was important to live up to the promise," assistant principal Craig Bramlett said.

The 2-story addition is located next to the cafeteria. It includes 12 regular classrooms, two physical science labs and a new band room.

"We have eight to nine teachers who roamed between different classrooms due to a lack of space in our school," Bramlett said. "These teachers now have their own permanent classrooms in the new addition."

A large commons area will serve as the main gathering area for ninth graders before school.

Beta Club induction ceremonies are among the programs that could be held in the commons area.

Computer labs are set up so teachers can see what every student is doing on a computer while teaching a lesson.

The school has ordered remote controls so math and science teachers can use classroom performance systems to monitor student progress in learning different material, Bramlett said. Discussions are underway to purchase additional furniture for the commons area. School administrators will look at additional classroom technology in the coming months.

"We are very excited to be in the ninth grade addition," Bramlett said. "We have a lot more room in the school now."