MVMS joins list of schools with renovation under Measure Q
By Tommie Brown, Staff Writer The development and renovations of schools in the Menifee Union School District under the passage of Measure...
http://www.menifee247.com/2019/08/mvms-joins-list-of-schools-with-renovation-under-measure-q.html
By Tommie Brown, Staff Writer
The development and renovations of schools in the Menifee Union School District under the passage of Measure Q has not been lost on Menifee residents. From roofing projects at Bell Mountain Middle School and Ridgemoor Elementary School to construction of the new Taawila Elementary School, there has been an undeniable buzz surrounding many school sites within the year.
But one of the less talked about, and arguably one of the most needed renovations, is taking place at Menifee Valley Middle School on a large scale.
Much of the campus has not undergone major renovations since its creation. Nearly all classrooms on the campus are still portable modules not meant to act as permanent classrooms.
While the communal space at the center of the school saw its makeover some years back, adding seating areas, shade structures, planters, lunch tables and a gymnasium, very little has otherwise changed.
But by August of 2021, the projected completion date, students and staff will find themselves in a high-tech, up to date campus that addresses Menifee Valley Middle School’s desire to teach students in an ever-changing environment that supports ingenuity and cohesiveness.
“That was a big aim that this school campus had,” said Ambur Borth, assistant superintendent for MUSD, “for the layout to flow as one large collective, encouraging togetherness and a campus that makes sense. As it stands, there are blocks and rows of buildings, and this layout aims to change that.”
With architecture design headed by the Baker Nowicki Design Studio, the same team spearheading the award-winning layout of Liberty High, it was protocol to call together a symposium of individuals to discuss the school’s needs, goals, and interests long before any architectural decisions were made (photo below).
One of the biggest topics of discussion was the need for privacy on campus. With the overcrowded layout of the school, student government, health, discipline, and the principal's office are all located in the same office. Administrative offices were placed significantly close together, which brought about more issues with auditory privacy, especially for the two counseling offices.
Undergoing the first phase of construction is the front office. Already open for the new school year, the main office is still undergoing major transformation, but is significantly different from what students and parents will have seen the previous years.
Another focal point of the renovation will be the library and special education department. While the two don’t go hand in hand, special education will be taking the place of where the library was formally placed.
Due to its size, the library stands as an ideal location for special education for the access to its own private entrance from the parent drop-off area. The current special education area is at the far end of the campus, making transportation for the students rigorous and tiring. In 2021, the special education families will have their own entry and exit hall that leads directly to parking.
The library will then be moved to what was formerly known as the “6th grade quad.” It will see a revamp of technology and bring a more modern space for students to learn.
VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) will also see major changes in the planning. Now, the only area specifically designated for arts is the rather small band room and the semi-stage area in front of it. With these changes, the band room will be widely extended to house both band and other performing arts needs, as well as a proper stage installed to have campus performances for any art group.
The campus will also be gaining maker spaces. Much like Liberty High, the campus will see multiple open space areas where students will be welcome to collaborate and broaden their surroundings.
An aspect of those collaborative spaces will be flexible rooms, which allows classroom walls to push open into other conjoining spaces to inspire teamwork among students and teachers, as well as freedom in administration to place whichever subjects in said classrooms that they see fit.
“This school has been bound to a specific type of segregation of subjects and age groups due to the layout of the campus,” said Jim Sellers, director of facilities. “The sixth graders have been in the same central location since before my time. This new model allows admin to move anyone anywhere they see fit to enhance the collectiveness of the school.”
“If they want all of sixth grade in one location, they can absolutely do that,” adds Borth. “They can flow over into different areas without even noticing a change. They have what they need to flow as they need and grow within the campus. That flexibility of the school allows teachers to adapt and expand with time, and that’s what’s great.”
The physical education area is also seeing mass renovations. From the reconstruction of the locker rooms to the widening of the blacktop, the architecture team aimed to utilize every inch of the campus it could.
“If anyone had seen the campus before construction started, they would know the multiple areas of waste in the physical education area,” said Sellers. “There was a big driveway-like area between the buildings that was useless. The goal is to now make every space purposeful.”
However, there may be no greater win for the MVMS campus than leaving behind a campus built on septic, and joining the world of sewer lines.
“I’m sure anyone who has been a student or staff on this campus is well aware of the smell spread across the school routinely,” explained Borth. “That’s because of the septic system we have had to continually drain thanks to no sewer lines. Thankfully, that’s all coming to an end.”
More good news for all schools within Measure Q is the arrival of security cameras. With infrastructure recently finished, the projected finish date for cameras to be placed and running on all school campuses is sometime during the coming winter break.
With the numbers of projected middle school students in the community rising, Menifee Valley Middle School is working from the inside out in order to meet the needs of students, staff, and parents that champion one of Menifee’s oldest school locations.
“This is what the community desires, and what the students deserve. A new site and a new campus, so that’s what we are reacting to,” says Borth.
The development and renovations of schools in the Menifee Union School District under the passage of Measure Q has not been lost on Menifee residents. From roofing projects at Bell Mountain Middle School and Ridgemoor Elementary School to construction of the new Taawila Elementary School, there has been an undeniable buzz surrounding many school sites within the year.
But one of the less talked about, and arguably one of the most needed renovations, is taking place at Menifee Valley Middle School on a large scale.
Much of the campus has not undergone major renovations since its creation. Nearly all classrooms on the campus are still portable modules not meant to act as permanent classrooms.
While the communal space at the center of the school saw its makeover some years back, adding seating areas, shade structures, planters, lunch tables and a gymnasium, very little has otherwise changed.
But by August of 2021, the projected completion date, students and staff will find themselves in a high-tech, up to date campus that addresses Menifee Valley Middle School’s desire to teach students in an ever-changing environment that supports ingenuity and cohesiveness.
“That was a big aim that this school campus had,” said Ambur Borth, assistant superintendent for MUSD, “for the layout to flow as one large collective, encouraging togetherness and a campus that makes sense. As it stands, there are blocks and rows of buildings, and this layout aims to change that.”
With architecture design headed by the Baker Nowicki Design Studio, the same team spearheading the award-winning layout of Liberty High, it was protocol to call together a symposium of individuals to discuss the school’s needs, goals, and interests long before any architectural decisions were made (photo below).
One of the biggest topics of discussion was the need for privacy on campus. With the overcrowded layout of the school, student government, health, discipline, and the principal's office are all located in the same office. Administrative offices were placed significantly close together, which brought about more issues with auditory privacy, especially for the two counseling offices.
Undergoing the first phase of construction is the front office. Already open for the new school year, the main office is still undergoing major transformation, but is significantly different from what students and parents will have seen the previous years.
Another focal point of the renovation will be the library and special education department. While the two don’t go hand in hand, special education will be taking the place of where the library was formally placed.
Due to its size, the library stands as an ideal location for special education for the access to its own private entrance from the parent drop-off area. The current special education area is at the far end of the campus, making transportation for the students rigorous and tiring. In 2021, the special education families will have their own entry and exit hall that leads directly to parking.
The library will then be moved to what was formerly known as the “6th grade quad.” It will see a revamp of technology and bring a more modern space for students to learn.
VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) will also see major changes in the planning. Now, the only area specifically designated for arts is the rather small band room and the semi-stage area in front of it. With these changes, the band room will be widely extended to house both band and other performing arts needs, as well as a proper stage installed to have campus performances for any art group.
The campus will also be gaining maker spaces. Much like Liberty High, the campus will see multiple open space areas where students will be welcome to collaborate and broaden their surroundings.
An aspect of those collaborative spaces will be flexible rooms, which allows classroom walls to push open into other conjoining spaces to inspire teamwork among students and teachers, as well as freedom in administration to place whichever subjects in said classrooms that they see fit.
“This school has been bound to a specific type of segregation of subjects and age groups due to the layout of the campus,” said Jim Sellers, director of facilities. “The sixth graders have been in the same central location since before my time. This new model allows admin to move anyone anywhere they see fit to enhance the collectiveness of the school.”
“If they want all of sixth grade in one location, they can absolutely do that,” adds Borth. “They can flow over into different areas without even noticing a change. They have what they need to flow as they need and grow within the campus. That flexibility of the school allows teachers to adapt and expand with time, and that’s what’s great.”
The physical education area is also seeing mass renovations. From the reconstruction of the locker rooms to the widening of the blacktop, the architecture team aimed to utilize every inch of the campus it could.
“If anyone had seen the campus before construction started, they would know the multiple areas of waste in the physical education area,” said Sellers. “There was a big driveway-like area between the buildings that was useless. The goal is to now make every space purposeful.”
However, there may be no greater win for the MVMS campus than leaving behind a campus built on septic, and joining the world of sewer lines.
“I’m sure anyone who has been a student or staff on this campus is well aware of the smell spread across the school routinely,” explained Borth. “That’s because of the septic system we have had to continually drain thanks to no sewer lines. Thankfully, that’s all coming to an end.”
More good news for all schools within Measure Q is the arrival of security cameras. With infrastructure recently finished, the projected finish date for cameras to be placed and running on all school campuses is sometime during the coming winter break.
With the numbers of projected middle school students in the community rising, Menifee Valley Middle School is working from the inside out in order to meet the needs of students, staff, and parents that champion one of Menifee’s oldest school locations.
“This is what the community desires, and what the students deserve. A new site and a new campus, so that’s what we are reacting to,” says Borth.
