The Squire
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
Summer 2021
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
Classroom renovations commence this summer By William Macdonald
Grade 7, Mission Dolores Academy
and Gina Xie
Grade 6, Aptos Middle School The 2021 Riordan renovation project brings new carpets, paint, whiteboards and furniture to classrooms, something teachers haven’t had for 17 years. The project is being spearheaded by Brandon Ramsey, Director of Facilities, who helped with the Math Department remodels. He said, “After these are done, we will have completed 18 [classrooms]. We will then have eight classrooms
A worker prepares to block off the hallway for construction of a classroom.
left, plus the teachers’ lounge is another area we want to complete.” Ramsey said, “Each room will get new paint, new white boards, new blinds, and new tech. The new tech involves large TVs and an Apple TV setup so teachers can stream from their
Photos by Andrea Abraham ’24 Reporters for The Squire interview Facilities Assistant Jeff Ramirez, who was working on preparing classroom 205 for renovations. laptops to the TVs.” They have also replaced the carpets and abated (removed asbestos from) the floors. Ramsey said, “This project will be around $360,000 and this money has come from both a fundraising campaign and our own facilities budget.” Each classroom remodel takes around six to seven weeks if there are no delays. “The structure we have come up with has allowed us to get a lot of classrooms done under a specific budget. We can always do ‘more,’ but that costs more
money. Doing it this way will allow us to get all of the classrooms done in a timely manner.” He added, “This will give the school a fresh start and a better perception to potential students and parents.” The teachers like the remodels and look forward to teaching in the new rooms in the fall. “Everything is new. It is a wonderful feeling. I especially like the TV and working window blinds,” said math teacher Mary Ann Datoc, whose room was completed a few months ago.
Please see “Classroom Renovations” on page 4