Stephen Foster Elementary School is ending this school year with excitement now that the media center renovations are complete. This is a significant accomplishment for the school, and it advances Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) SMART Bond Program towards its goal of renovating 100 media centers across the school district. The SMART Bond Program focuses on improvements in the areas of Safety, Music & Art, Athletics, Renovation, and Technology (SMART).
“The media center was outdated in terms of furniture, aesthetics, and color scheme. It looked like it had been used. The original furniture was wooden blocks. Very hard furniture. The paint was a standard yellow with blue or pink. From a decorative perspective, it was outdated,” said Principal Ricardo Grimaldo, who played a key role in the renovation design process, with a focus on creating a welcoming and comfortable space for students and teachers.
The media center serves as the main gathering place of the school, in the absence of an auditorium. Parent-teacher meetings, recognitions and awards ceremonies, staff meetings, staff appreciation events, and more, all take place in Stephen Foster Elementary’s media center. That makes this renovation vital for the entire school community.
But the media center isn’t the only renovation for Stephen Foster Elementary. “There were functional issues like ceiling tiles, the roof, and air conditioning. Those were things you don’t see, but on a rainy day, we would have a leak, occasionally,” Grimaldo said.
Upgrades to their fire alarm system, roofing, and HVAC systems, plus the replacement of the aluminum-covered walkway are expected to be completed by the end of this year and are part of the more than $5 million investment on the school campus.
ABOUT THE SMART PROGRAM
The voter-approved SMART Bond Program has made a significant contribution to the well-being of the students and staff of Broward County Public Schools by investing approximately $1.4 billion in enhancing the educational experience. To keep track of the developments at Stephen Foster Elementary and other schools throughout the district, visit bcpssmartfutures.com.
