When The Lariat last reported on CCHS’ media center, it was lacking a librarian. Now, two months later, the media center is seeing a number of new renovations after hiring a new clerk. Headed by CCHS’ AP coordinator Melissa Megna, Principal Vera Perkovic and media clerk Rosemane Rampart, CCHS students and staff can expect an entirely renovated media center by February of 2022.
From a freshly wrapped entryway to an anticipated order of new furniture, the media center is already becoming unrecognizable to some students.
“It looks way different now from the outside, but it’s still the same welcoming room. I used to have a class in the media center, so it brings back memories when I walk in,” senior Nathan Grey said.
As eye-catching as these renovations are and as new as they may seem, the media center updates have been underway for some time.
“Our 1980’s media center has undergone a phased upgrade for the last three years. We took a slight pause due to COVID,” Megna said. “The media center was recarpeted and painted three years ago.”
Recently, CCHS has restarted their annual and quarterly media center renovations, now that students and staff are back on campus. Those involved with the renovations are catering to the new generational waves of CCHS students.
“The book collection is updated yearly. The computer replacement has always occurred in a phased process because it is cost-prohibitive to replace them all at once,” Megna said. “The plan is to replace some of the existing desktops each year with the goal that no computer on the Media floor is older than 4 years old.”
CCHS has also been in contact with interior designers who specialize in schools and libraries to create an inviting environment.
“Mainly what we have in mind are the students. We want [them] to come into a comfortable environment where [they] can sit and relax,” Rampart said.
The work that CCHS staff have done so far has already helped in welcoming CCHS’ newer student body. As the media center has proved to be a comfortable and reliable place to work.
“I went with my class to the media center one day when our internet went out. It was a really nice and comfortable environment to get our work done,” sophomore Daniella Tellez said.
In the future, Rampart hopes students can find fun in the media center. She plans to organize donation drives for games to accomplish this.
“We’re hoping to get some donations for games, [for] the kids who do come here during lunchtime, who want to get away from studying all the time and play a little uno or chess,” Rampart said. “That’s what we want, something comfortable and inviting.”
With the media center being used for testing and conferences, as well as a library, organizers are hoping to create an environment as accommodating as it is inviting.
“…That’s another reason why we wanted it to also be a comfortable space because recently, we had a principals’ luncheon here …that’s why we really want to get these renovations done, because it’s not just used as a library, it’s used for other things too,” Rampart said.
With new and restarted media center renovations underway, CCHS students can expect a comfortable and inviting environment to visit during the school day, while CCHS staff can expect an accommodating room to meet and plan during lunch hours. The work that Perkovic, Rampart, and Megna have put into the media center renovations has already begun to welcome students. They look forward to welcoming a room full of students and staff for years to come.
