After two years of construction, Bay View Middle School in the Howard-Suamico School District has completed an estimated $50 million list of renovations, whose funding came from a 2021 referendum. This is the second school where the district has completed renovations; last year, Forest Glen Elementary unveiled new updates.
Planning for the Bay View improvements started before the referendum and involved students, staff and a community task force. The district and its architects wanted to prioritize natural light and multipurpose, adaptable spaces, said Michael Juech, assistant superintendent of operations.
“When you have spaces like this and you have the opportunity to do this, it can’t only be for one thing,” Juech said. “How do you design spaces that are going to last for 50 years, and how do you make sure you’re meeting the needs both now and in that timeline for our kids?”
Now, the school’s approximately 820 seventh- and eighth-graders have a new gym, common area and updated classrooms.
“(We’re) just so grateful for the community support to give our kids this advantage, to have these great, vibrant learning spaces, and it wouldn’t have happened without the community voting yes on the referendum,” principal Heath Garland said.
New gym frees up space
The main addition to Bay View is its new gym. It replaces the building’s older gym, built in 1963, which was converted into a cafeteria and common space. The new location allows the school to block off the athletic area, with its two gyms and concession stand, from the academic area.
There’s also a new weight and exercise room for students and staff. It’s a partnership with Prevea, and through that also offers workout classes for staff after school hours. The weight room matches the one at the high school, making the transition easier.
Cafeteria commons add central collaborative space
Bay View’s new cafeteria is in the old gym. It’s been completely redone, with new skylights and sound panels in the colors of the student “bays,” or pods of teachers they belong to. It also has a new HVAC system. The district has kept a portion of the old wooden gym floor on the wall as a memento.
The new cafeteria also serves as a general common space. Students may have study hall here, or teachers may bring their classes for a change of scenery.
The new collaborative spaces are eighth-grader Ellie Hultman’s favorite update. It’s easier to work there, and students have more in-school time to work together, she said.
Library sees more natural light
The library is now separate from the administrative offices. It got a major facelift, with new furniture and lighting. The space has always had skylights, but this renovation changed them from translucent to transparent, bringing in more natural light.
Ellie said one of the best new additions is the new technology, like monitors, that Bay View has added to the library.
Music rooms create fine arts section
Bay View moved its orchestra room in the renovation process; now, it’s side by side with the band and choir rooms. They also all connect to the auditorium.
“Let’s make sure our folks that are using that space are connected to it,” Juech said.
On this November's referendums: Green Bay area school districts referendum guide: what to know and how to learn more
The school also labeled outside entrances that visitors might use to attend events: “Performing Arts” for the door leading to the auditorium, and “Athletics” for the door leading to the gyms.
Renovated classrooms streamline learning
Bay View divides its students into “bays,” or houses of students with the same core teachers. Each bay has a real-life counterpart, like the Bay of Bengal or Chesapeake Bay, and are color-coded, with patterns on the walls and floors marking each space with colors pulled from a display photo. Student-written descriptions of each bay finish the space.
Now, each bay has a new collaborative space in its hallway that students can use for group work or independent study. Each upstairs bay has its own staircase, so students don’t have to walk through other areas, as well as skylights for natural light.
Classrooms were also updated. The building was originally a high school, so classrooms like science rooms were made more middle-school appropriate.
“We don’t need to do the same things that a high-school chemistry class is doing,” Juech said. “We were just wanting to make sure they functioned for our teachers.”
Contact Green Bay education reporter Nadia Scharf at nscharf@gannett.com or on X at @nadiaascharf.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: See inside Howard-Suamico's Bay View Middle School after $50M referendum renovations: new gym, cafeteria
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