Brainstorming, collaboration and planning is underway for the new Corbin Middle School building.
Staff and faculty members of the middle school gathered with the building’s architects on Wednesday to generate ideas for the building.
“Folks, we’re excited,” Corbin Independent Schools Superintendent Ed McNeel said before the group. “We’re here today to get your ideas and suggestions.”
The new middle school building is set to be constructed at the former site of Saint Camillus Academy, located off Master Street. McNeel said the session between architects and middle school staff was essential to the success of the building. “When we build the middle school we need to get it right on the first try,” McNeel said.
For more than two hours, Kevin Cheek, educational facility planner with Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects, worked with middle school and district staff to gather ideas for what they need in the new school building.
Among top priorities for the staff included school safety, storage space, afterhours availability, “smart” technology, handicap accessibility, preserving existing features of the Saint Camillus site and a welcoming learning environment.
“This is going to be a school designed for learning,” Cheek promised.
But, as with any architectural design, Cheek noted the process of designing the new school building would be a game of trade offs.
Since the school system only has a limited set of funds, every request made by staff simply could not be accommodated. Prioritizing the building’s needs would be necessary.
A date to begin construction on the new middle school building has yet to be set. The school district must first select contractors before any ground breaking could begin.
