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Construction on new science wing at high school almost complete

Robert C. Reed | Hickory Daily Record

Newton-Conover High School Principal Kevin Campbell talks about the new science wing at the school.

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: June 28, 2009

NEWTON - When Newton-Conover High students return to school this fall, they'll find a new addition.

Construction is almost complete on a six-classroom wing that will house the science classes at Newton-Conover High School. The spacious area, which is along the back of the school and West 15th Street, is built of brick, with large walls of windows to let in light. There are two classrooms for chemistry, two for biology, an environmental science classroom and one for physical science and physics. The school previously had only one chemistry room.

"With the new classrooms, they're bigger than the current science rooms, and there will be lab tables and desks," said Kevin Campbell, principal of Newton-Conover High School.

The environmental science classroom is the only one that will not have tables.

The rooms, which are grouped in sets of two, also have a prep room in between each set of rooms, so teachers can get supplies and other equipment ready.

The larger science rooms and the prep rooms are just two of the upgrades of the new science wing, said Barry Redmond, superintendent of Newton-Conover City Schools. Other upgrades include new technology for the classrooms, such as Smartboards and projectors. There are other safety improvements in the new facility, such as a better emergency gas cutoff system.

"We've been envisioning this for some time," Redmond said.

The project, which cost approximately $2 million, also includes a covered walkway from the JROTC area of the school to the bus parking lot, which also is being redesigned. Campbell said the new science wing caused the revamping of the lot, which also caused student parking to be moved back.

However, students will benefit, because they will actually end up with a few more parking spots than they currently have, Campbell said.

The five rooms currently used as science classrooms, which are all on the first floor, will be renovated and used for other things. Campbell said they will likely be used as an exceptional children's classroom, for health occupations, a second computer lab and the art department.

"We'll put new floor tiles where we have to remove the science lab stations, and repaint all the walls in the rooms," Campbell said. "We'll have to put some extra power in the computer lab room."

The new science wing is expected to be complete the third week of July, and renovations to the classrooms will be completed shortly after that.

"We're really excited about it," Redmond said. "I think it will look really great."