Springton Lake MS Renovates Classrooms, Pool, Adds Auditorium

Despite minor weather delays, $38 million construction and renovation project has reached its half-way point.

The project is scheduled for completion in September 2012 and includes a full-scale remodeling of the building's interior, construction auditorium and renovation of the natatorium, according to Principal Joyce Jeuell.

Jeuell said apart from minor heating, air conditioning and roof maintenance, the school has not been updated since it was built in 1972.

The addition of the 30,000 square foot auditorium will provide students greater opportunity in the performing arts, she said.

Currently, a 500-seat lecture hall suffices for an assembly area, however, Jeuell said many of its seats are damaged, rendering the facility unfit for large performances.

"We are actually going to have a real auditorium," she said.

The performing arts center will also contain new classrooms for instrumental and vocal programs.

Jeuell said the former library is being converted into 11 new classrooms, and the existing lecture hall will house the new library.

"The new library will be on the first floor of the building, so community members and students will have easy access to it," she said.

The other major aspect of the renovations involves the campus' swimming pool which has been dormant for approximately nine years.

From 1972 to 2000, the indoor pool was accessible to the greater community. Once renovated, the pool will be home to Penncrest High School swim team.

"Once Springton Lake opens the pool, then Penncrest will be able to hold their meets here and their practices," she said.

Prior to construction, there were module unit trailers that held classrooms for 15 years, and the goal of the project is to merge this classroom space into the greater building.

Jeuell said the converted library space will provide the same number of classrooms the modules currently do.

During this seasons' heavy snowfalls, workers were able to reallocate their time to work on the classroom renovations inside the building.

"As weather is good, they'll be able to make up that time," she said

Jeuell said D'Huy Engineering Inc, the firm overseeing the project, has been very receptive to school and community inquiries.

"If I have a question, issue or concern they are on-site and in my office in minutes," she said. "We've had very limited interruptions or concerns about what's going on."