North Springs Parents Want Flexible Classrooms, 'Brain Rest' Time

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Fulton County Schools recently wrapped up the engagement process for its addition/renovation project at North Springs High School, and parents and community stakeholders provided some interesting insight on what they would like to see in the near future.

Christian Long, founding partner of the visioning firm, Wonder, by Design, shared themes determined through several months of site visits, shadowing observations, and surveys as well as having workshops with students, educators, parents and the community. He also met with members of the North Springs’ School Governance Council, which sets and monitors the strategic direction of the school.

“Through my visits I saw a school with passionate and smart students, incredible teaching talent, and a tremendously supportive community,” he said. “The goal is to coalesce around a shared identity on what North Springs should aspire to be. These activities helped everyone voice their vision for North Springs’ future, which will drive the design for improving the school’s physical environment.”

During the engagement process, Long captured hundreds of candid comments among three spectrums – what should North Springs keep as a priority (‘What should we hold onto’), what should be changed (‘What should we let go of’) and what should be added.

Common “hold onto” themes included keeping strong relationships between students, teachers and the community; collaboration with others; innovative technology use; and education offerings that prepare students for the real world.

One participant noted the school’s “creative and funky culture” and others spoke of the positives that come from a diverse population of students and teachers, and a feeling that North Springs is a place where students feel accepted and encouraged.

Rigid mindsets and schedules, such as a seven-period school day, was something members of each group felt should be “let go of” as well as inflexible classroom and school space design, according to feedback. Things that the groups felt should be added were opportunities for more unstructured time and ‘brain rest,’ flexible school furnishings, spaces that inspire creativity and real-life connection, and more partnerships with corporations, academic institutions and local municipalities.

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In the engagement opportunities, participants also were asked to imagine the school’s needs in the context of 2028, given that the educational landscape 10 years from now might be drastically different than 2018. One participant succinctly noted, “Education simply looks different.”

Some of the imaginings were that technology will be more prevalent in 2028, such as increased use of virtual learning, attendance being taken via a fingerprint touchpad, and artificial intelligence teaching assistants being used in the classroom. They also imagined a community that may be more walkable with fewer cars but with more autonomously driving vehicles.

Rounding out the presentation, Long shared nine “How Might We?” questions that addressed the common thoughts and concerns from all of the activities. The questions challenged how teachers and students might work differently with their peers; how freshmen might be better set up for success; how students’ passions and paths might be inspired; how the future of work/careers/vocations might be explored; how eating and gathering/social time might be reimagined; how “neighborhood connections” might be nurtured; how collaboration with the community might be enhanced; how creativity and arts might be blended into the curriculum; and how diversity, equity and inclusion might be expanded.

The nine questions also included some “spatial possibilities” that give design exploration ideas. These will be used by the project architect, CDH Partners, to consider as they prepare design concepts.

“This process encouraged participants to put aside preconceived notions and focus on the type of educational experience our students should have, not just for today but for the future,” said North Springs Charter High School Principal Scott Hanson.

Miriam Salpeter, chair of the North Springs’ School Governance Council, agreed, adding the project "is stronger because of the candid comments and engagement from so many constituents." She noted the Governance Council is "extremely excited" to work with the school system on the next steps in this project.

District 7 School Board member Julia Bernath added it's important to the board that the "right decisions be made for North Springs' future."

"This engagement process was vital so the architects have the right information to move forward,” said Bernath, who advocated for fast-tracking the review schedule.

District 3 Board Member Gail Dean said she believed the community's input was a necessary step to make sure the school system provides proper investment for the school's future.

The Fulton County School Board is expected to review a potential preliminary design concept from CDH Partners in April, two months earlier than the original schedule. The full presentation from the March 8 community meeting is posted here.

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