Sloan Elementary students learn about infrastructure, ongoing renovation
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Many of the Sloan Elementary fourth-graders asking about the renovation project happening all around them — and the new school that will be built next door in Murrysville — let out an audible sigh of disappointment when they found out the project won’t be complete until the summer of 2021.
By that time, they will be headed to Franklin Regional Middle School.
“This happens all the time,” said Nancy Gorgas, a project manageer with Massaro Construction. “I get to talk with the older kids and then they don’t get to go to classes in the new building.”
She gave a presentation to Franklin Regional School District students this week about the renovation project and walked them through some of the infrastructure being installed.
Fourth-grade classes are in the midst of an electric circuit unit, learning what goes on inside a building powered by electricity, according to teacher Kim Ord.
“The students learned how to build switches and closed circuits, and how to put all of those together,” Ord said. “So, by doing this today and meeting with Mrs. Gorgas … the students were able to see a real-life version of what we’re doing in the classroom and apply that to what they’re doing for their final project.”
The presentation — a scaled-down version of the regular construction updates Gorgas provides at Franklin Regional school board meetings — allowed students to learn not just about the technical aspects of keeping a building humming, but also about the renovation that many of them have watched just outside their classroom windows.
“When the renovation is finished, we’re going to be moving into the classrooms the kids are watching be built,” said teacher Linda Brecht.
Construction and renovation is complete on the second phase of the Sloan Elementary building and that phase has been turned over to the district for use. Partitions are now in place for the project’s third phase. Gorgas said Phase III classrooms will be complete by the end of March, and the majority of new roofing on the building is finished.
“This is what I love about renovation,” she said. “The kids are seeing it every day, so why not use it as a tool for learning?”
For the latest updates on the Sloan “elementary campus” project, see FRSDk12.org and click on “Construction/Renovation Projects” under the “Community” menu.
Below, see an updated timeline for the Sloan project: