Skyline High School unveils $1.6 million science wing

Parents and community members got their first glimpse of Skyline High School’s new $1.6 million science wing at an open house Monday night.

The renovation added three lab classrooms and created more space for hands on experiments.

Skyline Principal Jeff Sanders said the science department hadn’t had many updates since the school was built in 1968.

“Students need room to work and in our old labs that was difficult,” said Sanders.

The money for the renovation came from a $53 million bond approved by patrons in 2012.

“When educators, parents and just community members in general work together, there’s very little we can’t accomplish,” said Sanders. “I’m always appreciative of that support.”

Chemistry teacher Pat Giles’ room saw some of the most significant changes. He said the labs are bigger and safer, with an in-class eye-wash and showering station and even an entire room for locking up chemicals.

“It keeps the chemicals out of access to the students,” said Giles. “Before, the chemicals and the students were in the same room.”

Teachers also have SMART projectors that make white boards interactive. Physical Science teacher Matthew Dixon can use the program to show just how the density of a material matters.

“It’s a lot easier to see the ideas behind things,” said Dixon.

Skyline has about 1,200 students, and approximately 900 of them take science classes.