On Oct. 11, Taft Middle School’s east dome was shut down due to structural issues found with supporting beams, later other complications arose in the west dome closing over 30% of Taft’s floorspace. In addition to Taft, Harding has closed both of their domes.
The beams are made of wood that runs along the outside of the domes but after 58 years of being outside, the beams have noticeable rot and are unable to support the weight.
Taft’s east dome was closed after meetings with administration and the Educational Leadership and Support Center (ELSC), the west dome and both of Harding’s were closed. Initially, only the cafeteria, band and vocal classes were affected but after both were closed, PE classes were also impacted.
“The band is currently in the foyer, vocal in the back of the building and orchestra is in the back of the building with an additional room for storage,” Hatfield said. “That’s a lot of relocation and one of the biggest things we have to think about is sound.”
Architects and structural engineers plan to fix the problem by building support inside the dome that goes from the floor to the top, but there isn’t an exact date when the domes will be stable again.
“We are probably looking at being back around February,” Taft Principal Gary Hatfield said.
Both students and teachers were affected by this change.
“Know that moving from one classroom to the next and adapting where we are, it’s not always easy, it’s not easy for the kids, it’s not easy for the other adults in the building,” vocal teacher, Victoria Cichoski said. “We are trying to do this as quickly as possible.”
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Lunch held in the student lounge. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Lunch in the Student LoungeSeventh-grade students eat lunch in a makeshift cafeteria. This area of Taft used to be the student lounge where students would collaborate and learn together. It sits in front of the library and stairs to the second floor. The new cafeteria can only hold eight tables compared to the original cafeteria, which held 20.
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Students milling around as Taft gym classes held on the back patio. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Gym Class Held on Back PatioSixth-grade students play a game in PE on the back patio, located behind the library just outside the back of the building. Students attempt to play four square, a game they normally wouldn't play in the gym.
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Orchestra classes being held in the foyer. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Orchestra Class in the FoyerOrchestra teacher Nicole Sturn hands Elizabeth Barrow her cello as they prepare for class. The foyer now hosts orchestra and band classes. The door behind Sturn is used for storage of instruments but students are not allowed to enter due to safety concerns.
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Taft lunch preparations in the link. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Lunch Preparation Along the LinkCafeteria staff prepare food for five lunch shifts, this area sits at the end of the long hallway connecting the domes and academic wing. Students sit just 20 feet away in the student lounge.
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Engineers and custodians prep the hallways before the lunch period. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Lunch SetupLead engineer Dean Jandik wheels a lunch table into the link in preparation for lunch. In addition to the eight tables in the student lounge, three additional tables are set up in the link to catch any overflow.
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The orchestra and band instruments are stored in the back of the library instead of the unsafe domes. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Instrument StorageBand and orchestra instruments line the back of the library. Students pick up their instruments from this area before heading to their class. Space is limited so creative means were necessary.
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The beginning of PE is held in the library. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)PE class in LibraryBefore heading outside, PE teachers Perrish Copeland and John Heald instruct students about the activity they will be playing. The library is a temporary location while Taft works to get a classroom setup for gym.
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The structurally unsound parts of the building are blocked off from public access. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Fences Surround the East DomeThe east dome sits empty and quiet. Students are not allowed inside the fenced area to ensure their safety. All beams will need to be reinforced before the domes can be considered safe.
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A wall separate the east dome and the rest of Taft Middle School. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Walls Around Compromised AreasWalls on either side of the foyer were constructed to keep students more than 15 feet away from where the dome could potentially fall. The lock and the "DO NOT ENTER" signs adorn the wall as a fair warning for students.
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A classroom is being prepped for PE classes. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Classroom Being Prepared for PEDistrict construction staff work to prepare a classroom for PE. The area was made by taking down a removable wall that connects two classrooms. All PE classes will be held in this area once it is ready.
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Lunch served in the link. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Students Getting LunchBagged lunches have become the norm for students at Taft. After grabbing a bag, students select their sides and main dish before returning to their table.
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Taft and Harding Middle Schools domes evacuated for beginning of 2023-24 school year. (Brooklyn Gilchrist)Entrance of TaftTaft's entryway has shrunk a great deal as fences create a barrier to additional space.
Students are currently served lunch in the student lounge, a small area in the academic wing.
“It’s weird, classes have changed a lot but it got really easy,” eighth grader Tyler Meaney said. “Lunch is weird because it’s tight in the link.”
Having lunch in a different setting means quicker cleanup for students and adults after each lunch so there is no mess on hallway floors.
“The kids are handling it well, they did not like eating in the classrooms very well, and what I told them is this is short term, we had to come up with a plan overnight and the easiest thing to do is eat in the classrooms,” Hatfield said. “But I understand they wanna eat together so we quickly developed a plan where they could.”
Although staff and students had to make adjustments, Taft will work to create a positive learning environment for their students.
“What wasn’t a challenge was getting people to cooperate, parents were super cooperative and understanding, staff has been great, kids have been great,” Hatfield said. “Everyone’s been working as a team, and that’s important and that makes things easier.”
