В старшей школе Хиббинга завершено обновление мастерских и классов для искусства

HIBBING—This past summer work was completed on rooms to serve as a workout room, and new classrooms for art, hot art, and industrial art classes at Hibbing High School. The project is funded as Phase 3A, roughly $1.48 million of an $8 million Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Facilities Maintenance grant awarded to the district in 2024, which could only be used for building projects. “This project is focusing on creating modern, functional learning environments that align with the needs of today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce,” Hibbing Superintendent Carrie McDonald said earlier. Principal Derek Gabardi provided the Mesabi Tribune with a tour of the newly renovated spaces inside the high school on Thursday. “I love it,” Lindsay Lervick, a seventh through 12th grade art teacher said of her new classroom space. Gabardi said a wall was taken out to expand the classroom, once used for welding. Lervick said she is especially happy about the sinks, which are accessible from both sides. The wood shop now has a classroom adjacent to the shop. “It used to be across the hall,” Instructor Shaun Howard said. The new configuration will make it easier to have kids working on projects in the shop, while class is going on. Heather Tomczak teaches what’s known as “hot art,” pottery, jewelry, metal working, stained glass, and sculpture. Tomczak’s new space is the former welding shop—a space where torches and soldering can be used in jewelry making. Due to a change in regulations, that’s something Tomcak said wasn’t allowed in her previous classroom space. The sinks and stainless steel countertops are also a benefit. Tomczak said stained glass uses a lot of water to clear it, and the “water goes everywhere.” The old classroom wasn’t equipped with sinks, so buckets were used for this process, according to Tomczak. As he looked around the hot art area, Gabardi said he was impressed with how the former welding shop cleaned up. He noted new windows are ordered, and will provide additional light to the space. Tomczak said she is likewise pleased with the space, including the new heating ducts that were installed ahead of schedule. The area provides more space, accommodating students working at the potters’ wheels. Having sinks with a drain will eliminate the mess and be much safer, she said. The choir room has also been overhauled, providing a bright new space for the choir. Work continues on Phase 3B of the IRRRB Facilities Maintenance grant awarded to the district. At roughly $2.4 million is anticipated to be completed later this year. It involves relocating the welding and machine shop to an existing space behind the school. The project greatly expands the space, providing the ability to accommodate larger-scale projects, Tyler Glad District Building and Grounds Supervisor told the Mesabi Tribune in May. Improving safety and enhancing indoor air quality will remain top priorities throughout the project, Glad noted. “The auto shop will be redesigned with a more open layout, creating a more spacious and collaborative environment for both instructors and students,” Glad said.