The number of teaching stations in the updated design remains consistent with the previous plan – 73 teaching stations, 40 of which are general classrooms and the remaining being specialized instructional spaces. There has been no decline or reduction in the number of teaching stations included in the modernization.

Classrooms typically refer to general education spaces, such as English, Math or World Language. Teaching stations include both general classrooms and specialized instructional spaces like science labs, music rooms, dance studios, gymnasiums, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) labs.

To reach the goal of reducing 15,000 square feet, the district took a balanced approach—some large spaces were adjusted, and several smaller reductions were made. These changes are still proposals and have not yet been finalized. Key proposed changes include:

• Reducing the theater size from 1,000 to 500 seats, which aligns with the standard in other recent high school modernizations and follows the Educational Specifications (Ed Specs).

• Reducing the number of Team Rooms from 5 to 3, bringing it in line with McDaniel High School and current Ed Spec guidelines.

• Reducing or removing square footage in areas like office space, conference rooms, building lobby space, general storage, and the archive room.

• Reducing or removing community partner and district program space square footage that was over Ed Spec or not in Ed Spec.

• Decreasing the square footage of the dance studios, while still maintaining 2 dedicated studios and working with PPS staff to ensure safe movement space remains.

• Reducing the choir room by 200 square feet. Note: the choir is not listed as a required space in the Ed Specs and was larger than the previous choir builds, but the room remains in the plan.

Throughout the process, the team has aimed to honor prior design work while making necessary adjustments to stay within the evolving budget and square footage limits.

While dance and choir are valued parts of Jefferson’s programming, they are not designated as required spaces in the district’s Ed Specs. However, because they are important electives for students, the district has proposed reallocating square footage from general education electives to support performing arts.

In the previous design, these spaces were added on top of the existing square footage, which contributed to increased costs. In the current proposal, space for dance and choir is still included, but within the existing footprint by shifting space from general education, which helps control both square footage and overall budget growth.

Yes. The library remains a dedicated space in the Ed Specs and will be included in the final school design.