As a part of President Obama’s federal stimulus bill, the school administration has announced plans in progress to build a two-story building for use in the next academic year. The project is to be funded by The American Recovery and Re-investment Act (AARA), which allocates $787 billion for federal stimulus funding. Schools everywhere across the nation are receiving funding to build and renovate classrooms and provide programs for disabled students. With an average of 8.5 to ten  special education classes in high schools across California and only six at MSJ, one of the main intents of the construction project is to create a forum to greater serve the  needs of special education students in our school.

The new building is currently planned to be built on the same site where some of the P-Wing portables currently stand. The rooms which are likely to be relocated are P 1-4, 12 and 13. The first floor will be designated for special education, and the second floor will hold classes previously administered in the portables of the P-Wing. According to Principle Sandra Prairie, four special education day classes would be held on the ground floor, and six regular education classes would be held on the second. In addition to two day classes for mild to emotionally disturbed handicapped students, two new special education classes would be added for physically and severely handicapped students. All in all, the school may have two more special education classrooms and one more regular class room than it currently does. Construction for the project will begin immediately at the end of the school year, and its projected deadline is August 2010. School officials plan to have the classrooms in use during the 2010–11 school year.

However, not all have shared the enthusiasm of the new project coming on campus. Some teachers feel a bit disgruntled, having to pack up their classrooms only to unpack the next year away from a classroom set up and location they were familiar with. “I like the portables and its location away from the main school. It is quite peaceful, and I am now used to this kind of environment,” said Social Sciences Teacher Cate Ruebling. Principle Sandra Prairie, however, feels more optimistic about the move and is confident that the teachers will adjust to their new set up and share her enthusiasm.

Special Education Department Chair Larry Polon also has high hopes for the project. “Hopefully this [building project] will provide these special day class programs with not only newer facilities, but with an opportunity to do more departmentalizing, sharing of materials, and easier flow from class to class. My hope is that it will also provide better interaction between our regular education and special needs populations.”