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VSDB's construction project on track | The News Leader | newsleader.com
The $70 million construction project at Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind is on schedule despite some early unexpected challenges with construction.
The two dorms, one for deaf students and the other for the blind will be completed on time for the next school year, school and construction company officials said.
The education building should be ready by January.
In the meantime, the school is a construction site — and has been since September, 2008.
Safety barriers can make getting around a challenge.
"The changes are a little confusing at times. I feel like I do a lot of wandering because our normal pathways are blocked," said Christopher Burger, a blind student who utilizes a cane to navigate safely.
A.J. Walker, VSDB's orientation and mobility specialist, works continually with students to familiarize them with the new routes.
Deaf students miss using their old shortcuts to Price Hall.
Still, despite the inconveniences, students and staff are looking forward to the new facility.
One key aim of the project is to bring deaf and blind students together more often, something that Laura Brooks, a teacher for the blind and visually impaired, feels will work well.
There will be gains for students, getting to know others who may face different kinds of challenges, and gains for teachers, too.
"It will be easy to share and collaborate with other teachers when we are in the same building," said math teacher Lindsay Burris.
Burris also said that it will be exciting to have new technologies to enhance student learning.
School superintendent Nancy Armstrong believes no other school for the deaf and the blind will combine services for students in the way VSDB will, by having one building for middle and high school students from both departments.
"This means that science labs, computer labs and the horticulture programs can be easily accessed by all students. This building will have state of the art technology, lighting and heating as well," Armstrong said.
She said she hopes the project will help keep VSDB as the one Virginia state school that can provide outreach services for all students with sensory impairments.
"We are the experts in the state and need to advertise that to everyone," she said, adding that she's hoping to extend summer classes to all students and provide a place for workshops and conferences.
To meet key needs of VSDB students, all buildings will have a special emergency system that allows the students to see and hear when there is an emergency and what kind of emergency it is. Different colored lights represent different types of emergency situations and a voice accompanies the lights describing the nature of the emergency and what to do. This will allow each building to be a multi-purpose facility.
The dorms, meanwhile, will include conveniences specifically designed for the needs of VSDB students.
The kitchen and laundry room will be the areas where students can practice cooking, cleaning and laundry skills.
Large screen televisions, multiple lounges and study rooms will give students plenty of space to relax, socialize and study.
The dorm for the deaf will have a large open space, for ease of sign language communication, as well as video phones for communication with friends and family.
In the blind dorm, students will have their choice of relaxation in a lounge for noisy activities such as playing music or a quieter lounge for socializing.
The $70 million construction project at Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind is on schedule despite some early unexpected challenges with construction.
The two dorms, one for deaf students and the other for the blind will be completed on time for the next school year, school and construction company officials said.
The education building should be ready by January.
In the meantime, the school is a construction site — and has been since September, 2008.
Safety barriers can make getting around a challenge.
"The changes are a little confusing at times. I feel like I do a lot of wandering because our normal pathways are blocked," said Christopher Burger, a blind student who utilizes a cane to navigate safely.
A.J. Walker, VSDB's orientation and mobility specialist, works continually with students to familiarize them with the new routes.
Deaf students miss using their old shortcuts to Price Hall.
Still, despite the inconveniences, students and staff are looking forward to the new facility.
One key aim of the project is to bring deaf and blind students together more often, something that Laura Brooks, a teacher for the blind and visually impaired, feels will work well.
There will be gains for students, getting to know others who may face different kinds of challenges, and gains for teachers, too.
"It will be easy to share and collaborate with other teachers when we are in the same building," said math teacher Lindsay Burris.
Burris also said that it will be exciting to have new technologies to enhance student learning.
School superintendent Nancy Armstrong believes no other school for the deaf and the blind will combine services for students in the way VSDB will, by having one building for middle and high school students from both departments.
"This means that science labs, computer labs and the horticulture programs can be easily accessed by all students. This building will have state of the art technology, lighting and heating as well," Armstrong said.
She said she hopes the project will help keep VSDB as the one Virginia state school that can provide outreach services for all students with sensory impairments.
"We are the experts in the state and need to advertise that to everyone," she said, adding that she's hoping to extend summer classes to all students and provide a place for workshops and conferences.
To meet key needs of VSDB students, all buildings will have a special emergency system that allows the students to see and hear when there is an emergency and what kind of emergency it is. Different colored lights represent different types of emergency situations and a voice accompanies the lights describing the nature of the emergency and what to do. This will allow each building to be a multi-purpose facility.
The dorms, meanwhile, will include conveniences specifically designed for the needs of VSDB students.
The kitchen and laundry room will be the areas where students can practice cooking, cleaning and laundry skills.
Large screen televisions, multiple lounges and study rooms will give students plenty of space to relax, socialize and study.
The dorm for the deaf will have a large open space, for ease of sign language communication, as well as video phones for communication with friends and family.
In the blind dorm, students will have their choice of relaxation in a lounge for noisy activities such as playing music or a quieter lounge for socializing.