After working at three different schools before Triton High School principal, Patrick Kelley said that Triton was in the worst physical condition.
“Most of the systems at Triton are 50 years old,” said Kelley.
Kelley relates Triton to his past schools with their similarities and differences. Triton differs (varies) most with its current physical state. Kelley also talks about the biggest concerns at Triton and how a new school building and facilities could benefit the district greatly.
Q: What are the differences between your old school and triton?
A: This is my 4th school. My most recent school was in Holliston, Mass. It was built in 1969 and then in 2001 it was renovated. Compared to Triton, the upkeep of the building was better. Overall it felt like the other schools were physically in better shape but had flaws in their design like Triton. Most of the systems at Triton are 50 years old. There is a lot of dead space that we don’t use. Our classrooms are smaller than what they would be in a new school, especially our science labs. Learning at Triton feels hidden behind the issue of the building.
Q: What were the similarities between your old school and Triton?
A: Both schools (Triton and his former school in Holliston) were built around the same year. They are second-floor buildings with a lot of the same features, one being the overall coloring of the classrooms and floors. From a PE standpoint, both had similar gym attributions. My former school in Sharon just got a new building. That building was so old the building was making people sick.
Q: What are the main issues at Triton that you see as the most important/most needed to be fixed?
A: The greatest challenge right now is the roof. We’ve had a lot of issues with leakage in classrooms. Originally it was a 10 million dollar roofing project which has now reached up to 12 million dollars. Obtaining a new roof would involve fixing related problems such as the heating and cooling systems.
Q: How does a new building raise the appeal of possible new students, or possibly raise the reputation of a school?
A: The most significant reason for choosing to leave Triton or another school is its facilities. A new school might attract people into the community while also having students reconsider leaving to private schools.
Q: How can new facilities of a school building positively impact the success of a school whether it be sports or academics and are there any direct examples that can prove this ?
A: I believe that a more communal learning environment would be much more beneficial towards students. Some triton rooms and learning areas have been said to look like “bunkers” the way that they are built. Classroom learning at Triton has been isolated and doesn’t have any aspects that stand out to students. Having things unique to a building can be crucial so that the students can be proficient in a specific area that they are interested in. Whittier has classrooms that have equipment that applies to the topic that they are learning, giving students more experience in their subject. Also having improved athletic facilities such as new weight rooms can be more functional for all the sports teams. With indoor turf the weather can be less of an obstacle for teams that practice outside. Our locker rooms are currently outdated but with newer locker rooms, the population of player participation could skyrocket.
Q: Do you think the outdated building affects Triton’s staff?
A: The outdated building affects staff morale and teaching. A new school has areas of learning that old schools don’t. When you’re at an old school you don’t get the needs that a new school has. Especially with athletics, Triton is behind with equipment and facilities.
Q: Do the athletic activities and equipment more modern schools are able to offer vary greatly from our own? And is the safety equipment a school is able to offer a large factor when considering whether or not a school is due for renovations?
A: Higher quality artificial turf and locker rooms, more modern sleds, and more indoor space for when it’s raining are examples of things that other schools are able to offer that we could with future renovations. More modern schools and buildings are able to offer and promote an improved level of inclusion and functionality for athletics.
