Proposal for new science classrooms at two D93 high schools

Bonneville School District 93 is getting input from the public when considering its next bond. One of the options for a new bond is eight new science classrooms at both Bonneville High School and Hillcrest High School. The science classrooms and labs are outdated at both schools. The district invited the public, especially those with science and medical backgrounds, to see the current rooms, look at plans for the potential renovations and give input on what future rooms might need.

“Just giving us feedback on what we’re looking at, things that we should include so that when the board makes the decision on when or if they’re going to go to bond, we’re prepared to move forward,” said Heath Jackson, principal at Bonneville High School.

Not much has changed since Bonneville High School was built in 1978. Principals at both schools say the current rooms and labs don’t meet the needs of today’s science requirements.

“Our teachers are doing a phenomenal job of providing opportunities for our kids,” Jackson said. “But most of it becomes demonstration because we lack the lab space and so our desire is to have more hands-on opportunities for our students with a lab facility that would accommodate that.”

The District 93 School Board allocated money in the last bond to start working with architects to determine what is needed at the two schools. There are four phases of potential updates. Each phase would get its own bond to prevent a tax levy increase. Phase one would add the science classrooms and would change the front entrance to the two schools to increase safety.

“Our goal is to bring the student enrollment population to 1,500 and have a capacity of 1,500 students,” Jackson said. “And so as we add classrooms, we want to be very deliberate in what type of classrooms we’re adding. And our greatest need right now is science classrooms and being able to provide lab space for our students to explore the hands-on opportunities on the science classroom.

These plans will only go forward if and when the school board decides to put forth a new bond. The district is holding more open houses on the new project proposals next week. They will take place Wednesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at both high schools.