SWAMPSCOTT — Brandy Wilbur, Swampscott High School’s library and technology specialist, announced to the School Committee Wednesday night that the three-phase Library, Innovation and Technology renovation program has entered its second phase, which is set to last until the end of the 2021-22 school year.
Under this phase, a new area in the high-school library will be created for staff and student usage of technology, and will have organized space for technology items and a new Tech Ninja program.
The space will include three learning commons, two small lounge spaces and a green space for educational-hydroponic systems. The plan aims to hire a technology assistant and further develop the Library Assistant Program. The budget for phase two is $25,000 and a $30,000 budget is set for phase three. These funds were granted by the town through the Capital Improvement Committee. The project is set to be completed at the end of the 2022-23 school year.
Wilbur showed a presentation of progress created by the Swampscott High School Director of Technology, Digital Learning and Innovation Lytania Mackey-Knowles to the committee. This included pictures of the new rooms, with new tables, state-of-the-art chargers and better lighting. Both Wilbur and Mackey-Knowles note the library area was cluttered with items and surplus before this project, and the result will create an open space for students to use.
“Now that all of the shades are up and the students are in there, it’s just such a beautiful space to work in,” said Mackey-Knowles. “The students are so happy.”
The Swampscott School Committee was impressed with the status of the renovation project, with Committee Chair Amy O’Connor remarking that the pictures looked, “like something out of a college catalog.”
Committee member John Giantis commended the update as well, particularly on how the project was able to use the space in the library as a space for tech items.
“It is so great to see the space repurposed,” said Giantis. “I know for quite a long time there’s been a big question mark about what is going to happen there and I am really glad to see it repurposed like that.”
The Library Innovation and Technology Renovation program began during the 2019-20 school year, with the goal of transforming a section of the high-school library into an innovation space. Students and teachers would use the space for different goals, such as meetings for student clubs, professional development, and classes.
The first phase of the project took place last year and was directed at decluttering the area, planning new spacing and ordering new furniture. The next phase, the current one, focuses on rearranging the new furniture, renovating new rooms for technology and Tech Ninjas and planning for an innovation lab. The final phase will be solely focused on installing the lab, which will repurpose an old library classroom.
Concept designs for the lab include open areas with foldable whiteboards on wheels and a look-through window to the library.
Mackey-Knowles said the open-room designs would help students think creatively and freely.
“Unless you go to the cafeteria, everything is in a classroom,” said Mackey-Knowles. “This allows students for any type of project where they need material or room to breathe and let their brain and creativity open up.”
Further updates will be announced in 2022.
