Pam Dudding-Burch
Contributing writer
For years, Craig County students have had to study on desks of many different colors, sizes and shapes.
At the August School Board meeting, Superintendent Jeanette Warwick stated, “this year, all three schools will have new desks and chairs in every classroom.”
With school less than a week away, the desks and chairs have already been delivered. Despite appearing to be an impossible feat at first, many people worked together to bring the goal to fruition.
“I want to recognize a group who has worked tirelessly on one of the projects for the school, our ‘Furniture Super Heroes’ who are Bethany Saunders, James Thomas, Kim Wolfe, Blake Hannah and the football team,” Warwick said at the meeting.
Samuel Foster, Director of Instruction and Educational Technology, helped to spearhead the ordering and delivery. “All the furniture has arrived except for the high school, and they are scheduled to be completed by August 10,” he said.
The furniture purchased for all three schools has the same design. The only difference being that both the elementary and middle school desks have a book box under the chair while the high school does not.
“All of the desks have the same configuration so that regardless of where there is a need, we can move things around and pull from any room for future convenience,” Foster added. “The color of the chairs are blue.”
Chairs and desks can now be added to any room without them looking out of place. The desks aren’t just new; they are all top notch.
“In the past one of the difficult problems we had was having a room with desks in it and needing to replace it. We couldn’t get certain desks with colors that matched the room,” Foster explained. “All of a sudden we would have five or six different desks and colors in one room; this way it is uniform.”
Foster also noted that if a larger elementary school child needs a bigger desk, they could just transfer one from the middle or high school.
“We are really excited about this, and we hope you get an opportunity to look around at the room and the different configurations the teachers have made with their new furniture, as I see a lot of really cool things going on,” he said.
Foster also explained that new desks and chairs for 21st Century learning were also purchased. “This is where small groups and kids work together in collaboration,” he said.
Diana Bayne added, “My daughter is a teacher, and she absolutely loves the new furniture. She could not wait to get with Ms. Warwick to let her know how excited she was about having it in our room.”
Another teacher, Amelia Taylor, said, “I am excited to have new furniture! It makes a difference and makes you take pride in your room.”
Many other teachers were elated about their new desks and chairs, including Andrea Jennings. “We would like to say thank you for the furniture as it is nice and sturdy and not flimsy,” Jennings said with a smile before adding, “This is my 29th year in Craig and the first time I have ever had all new furniture in my room. I can retire happy now.”