Eastridge: Fact or Fiction?
February 12, 2009 • written by Molly Lease
“Well I heard they are going to have grass on the roofs and a windmill.” Rumors about the new East Ridge High School seem to be flying around like that case of lice in first grade. “Yeah, well I know they are going to have laptops for every single student and a smart board in all the classrooms!” “You’re never going to believe this one! The coaches aren’t teachers! In fact, one is deaf, dumb and blind.” “No one can top this; their bathrooms have golden glistening urinals, with that funny fountain like they have in Europe and stuff.” Really people, lets get a grip and fact check our brains.
“They are going to have grass on the roofs and a windmill.” This statement is almost true. South Washington County school districts have put together a wish list to ensure the energy efficiency of our schools. This includes new windows, updating heating and electrical systems, a wind turbine at East Ridge, and more. This wish list racks up a bill of about $22.7 million dollars. None of these plans set in stone, as it is only a WISH LIST. So yes, this rumor is not a complete lie, there is a possibility of a wind turbine at East Ridge.
“They are going to have laptops for every single student and a SMART board in all the classrooms” This is a half truth. Yes laptops will be available for students to use but not enough for everyone to check out. According to Gretchen Romain, former art teacher at Park and intern at East Ridge, “Our library will have a college feel. Students can come in and checkout laptops and chill while they study and research. Our whole site is wireless, so many kids will bring in their laptops from home (since we will not have enough for the whole student body to checkout)” Also, there will be SMART boards in most of the classrooms, but not all.
“The coaches aren’t teachers!” This is true. The coaches have been selecting from around Minnesota to have the best, but they will not be teaching the students they coach. The girl’s tennis coach is the #1 ranked wheelchair tennis player in the world and is a two-time Paralympian (2004 & 2008) and an eight-time United States Wheelchair World Cup team member. A list of the coaches can be found on the East Ridge High homepage. http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ERHS/
“Their bathrooms have glistening, golden urinals!” Not a chance. As great as this new facility is, there will not be golden urinals with the funny water fountain. But they do have some pretty great automatic hand dryers that Romain said are, “strong and efficient,” but you can check that out for yourself.
It seems there may be some truth in the rumors going around. Just don’t let it get the best of you Park. This is still the home of the Wolfpack.
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