Last year, South Lakes had approximately 2,150 students. After the Class of 2012 left and the freshmen class enrolled, the school currently about 2,325 students.
This increase of students has resulted in many changes within the school community. One of the most evident modifications has been the increase of learning cottages, also known as trailers, from five to 15 cottages.
“The trailers have been a necessary addition to the school,” Principal Kim Retzer said. “I don’t believe that we could physically schedule the student’s classes without them.”
Though the trailers are viewed as essential to keep down class sizes, not every student is adjusting well to the additional cottages.
“The trailers have really made it hard for me to reach some of my classes and be successful in them,” junior Conor McBride said. “I am most often late to my classes that are in the trailers. I believe that the addition of the 10 new trailers have a big problem.”
Just as students are not happy with the additions, teachers have expressed their concerns as well.
“Now that I have to teach in the trailers full time, it has created many more problems with my teachings with my students,” history teacher Eirik Harteis said. “I have found difficulty with the temperature of the trailer, water leaking in the trailer, and with the acoustics of the room. I often have difficulties hearing some of my students or my students hearing me.”
Even with the many setbacks of the learning cottages, Retzer believes that with some industrial improvements, the trailers will provide an adequate learning space.
“I believe that after some improvements to the trailers, such as gutters and some wiring issues, that we will provide an equal teaching and learning environment to both the teachers inside and outside,” said Retzer.
With improvements to be made and students still adjusting to outdoor travels for class, Retzer believes that these trailers will provide a prominent learning environment.
“I believe that with some small improvements and some getting used to the trailers will provide the same excellent learning environment as we do inside the main building of the school,” said Retzer.
