Kermit McKenzie Junior High School’s newly renovated Learning Center will take student, parent, and staff engagement and technology to a new level in Guadalupe.
The grand opening for the nearly $400,000 learning center took place Jan. 20. The multipurpose facility features an educational environment for students where Google Chromebooks, a variety of books, and audio/visual equipment can be used to complete research-based and other projects. It also provides additional space for staff, parent, and community meetings.
Guadalupe Union School District Superintendent Ed Cora believes the project was vital because the campus is extremely small and all buildings are being fully utilized as the student population continues to grow.
“GUSD students deserve the best learning facilities that can be provided to them,” Cora said in a press release. “This new learning center is a huge improvement from their former library.”
Remodeling work began on the former student services building nearly a year ago. Funding came from state emergency repair funds and donations including from the Edwin and Jeanie Woods Foundation, and community members for new books.
Student Juliana Rios and fellow students say they can’t wait to get inside.
“It’s amazing!” Rios said in the press release. “There is a lot of room and the students are going to want to come more often. I enjoy using Chromebooks as a learning tool. Mrs. Ungricht is an amazing librarian and she takes time to help students with homework, and that makes it a fun place to be.”
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 4, 2016.