With the impending construction of a contemporary, state-of-the art high school comes minor inconveniences involving parking and use of the school’s facilities.
Athletic teams have had to juggle practice and game at different locations this season. For example, the outdoor track team practices with the New London High School track team at New London and the baseball teams have been using Leary Field on Vauxhall St. Ext.
According to Mr. Macrino, there will be no student parking in the “upper two sections” of the upper lot, but “parking near the tennis court will be permitted.”
Student drivers should not be alarmed, however, as “the practice field will be used for overflow parking,” said Mr. Macrino.
The practice field now has an asphalt parking lot that student drivers will use along with the cafeteria parking lot, effective tomorrow. Staff will now park in the two lots in the front of the school. Parent who drop off children will do so via a new drop-off near the front door, while busses will drop off in front of the Old Gym. The road that leads to the athletic field and tennis courts is closed, also effective tomorrow.
Even after students and faculty depart the building for the day, construction continues throughout the night.
Each night, utility workers “dig and then fill the trenches” so that staff, students, and visitors can safely navigate the parking lot, said to Mr. Macrino.
The campus has already changed. Trees on the hill of the upper parking lot have been removed. Others trees and shrubs around school have been cut down as well.
The Dance Club’s annual March show marked the end of the club using the Dance Room for practice to prepare for its big event. The room, built during the 1982 addition, will be removed this year.
The auditorium, also an addition in 1982, will be undergoing major changes as well. This summer, an asbestos abatement will be done, which will be completed before the first day of school. Actual construction work on the auditorium is scheduled for April through August, 2012, which will be affect the WATERFORDrama Program’s annual musical production.
According to Shane Valle, WATERFORDrama’s director, “If [auditorium construction] schedule stays [as it is now], all end of year events next year, including the musical, will have to be held somewhere else. At this time, I am not sure where or if we will be doing a musical in the spring.”
Work on the football field launched this month, which will affect this year’s graduation. Consequently, graduation will be held at Connecticut College on June 22.
According to Mr. Macrino, principal, May 2nd will mark the start of renovations to the “pool, field house, and locker room.”
As a result, “the pool will be closed to the public, and gym classes will be held outdoors,” said Mr. Macrino.
The official groundbreaking ceremony will be at 10AM this Thursday.