In January 2025, Millikan High School began to undergo construction, marking the beginning of refurbishing our campus which is set to conclude in 2027.
These alterations, “will create a seismically safer school with energy-efficient, accessible and air-conditioned spaces to better withstand heat waves and rising temperatures,” as stated in the Millikan High School Community Meeting Report.
As a result of the construction, the campus will receive air conditioning (HVAC), ventilation, heating, and will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “I think it’s not fun. It’s never fun. But it’s gonna be worth it. It’s gonna be great. I can’t wait for our school to have upgrades because some of my students have wheelchairs, and they’ll be able to move around freely,”states Ms. Palsgrove, the Fashion Teacher here at Millikan. “I can’t wait for the day that we have A/C just like the other schools. And the only saddening part is that my building (700 building) will be torn down,” she adds.
As specified in 2024, in the September 30th Community Meeting Report, construction will have designated hours as to not disturb the learning environment. Noise levels will also be monitored to minimize disruption.
“I hate it because it’s too loud. It’s a lot happening, and I get they’re working, but I feel like they don’t consider the students,” said Kenzie Longino, COMPASS Fashion Student.
These aspects certainly add unplanned conflict, though these temporary disturbances are overshadowed by the sustained advancements in student well-being.
Emily Guzman • Oct 15, 2025 at 3:26 pm
I must praise this article for its good insight and explanation of the school’s current state. I admire how Terrazas answers the common question asked by students as to why there has been so much construction on campus for the past months. However, I do have a concern regarding the bias of opinions from people interviewed for the writing. Because two out of three of the quotes are from individuals in the fashion program at Millikan, their perspectives on the construction at school may be impacted because of how the construction affects the building used for their program. Despite this, I enjoy the last sentence of the article for the way it is worded and how effective it is in giving the article a clean finish by recapping the points made with a general statement.
Another thing I enjoyed about this article was how it mentioned the new accommodations being made under construction to apply to ADA regulations. My reaction to seeing this mentioned in the article was extremely positive. As someone who is close to a person with a physical disability, I like how Terrazas sheds light on ADA requirements, as there is often little representation for these matters. A correction I would like to make, however, is that ADA regulations do not strictly apply to wheelchair users, as others with physical disabilities still require accommodations but do not use wheelchairs. My only suggestion would be to elaborate on exactly what else is being newly implemented in addition and how the new features added during the current construction period comply with the ADA.
Finally, I’d like to leave the author with questions to consider after writing this article. The writing provided a direct, clear, and informative perspective on the situation, remaining neutral on the subject while remaining informative. What was Terraza’s motivation for writing this article? In addition, I wanted to add that I noticed a pattern in the two people interviewed and quoted in this article. Out of three sources, two of them were from the Millikan fashion program. What made them the ones interviewed in particular, and how qualified are they to make their claims? Lastly, Terrazas does a wonderful job at writing professionally with a purely informative tone without expressing her own personal opinion. I am curious what her own opinion on the topic may be, or the thoughts that were provoked in her while writing.
Sienna Meade • Oct 14, 2025 at 1:15 pm
As I read this article, I learned a lot more about what is going on at this school than I had previously thought was happening. I did not know how much longer this construction was going to last, and it is kind of frustrating that it is going to end when I am about to graduate, but at least other kids get the most out of the benefits that this new change has.
The article said that the construction was being done in order to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act, but why would Millikan wait until last year to make this change? The article also mentioned how the construction is supposed to minimize disruptions, specifically of noise, but I think it is not too loud when they are working. It just blocks part of the walkways and makes it more crowded in some areas.
Overall, this article was really helpful in understanding what is going on at this school and why the construction is taking so long to finish.
Kaylie Rodriguez • Oct 14, 2025 at 11:34 am
This article well explains the time period of when Millikan started their construction journey and when it is desired to end. Alyssa incorporated various quotes from numerous teachers as her sources to gain information and opinions on the construction that is currently in progress. Alyssa’s information and sources are credible and riveting, she reviews that the alterations will create a beneficial and inclusive environmental state for everyone at Millikan. She goes into detail and is precise on these factors, for example, she mentions that the campus will receive air conditioning, ventilation, heating, and will be able to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. She also reveals that the 700 building will be demolished in upcoming years. This was something that I had never heard, so I was very shocked to hear this news, but pleased to acknowledge this compulsive decision. She did an excellent job including the dates and a precise image that illustrates the construction that has been going on since January 2025. Alyssa did a fantastic job over viewing the construction that is undergoing to this day and I was hooked the entire time, learning new information with each sentence I read.
Tyler Carmichael • Oct 14, 2025 at 9:53 am
I recently read this piece while perusing the latest articles published on the Corydon, and this struck me as a relatable piece. Terrazas identified the issue that Millikan students and staff face with the ongoing construction on campus. She places an emphasis on the positives that will come from this, stating, “temporary disturbances are overshadowed by the sustained advancements in students well-being”. Concluding with this declares her tone, and you can tell that she is clearly on the side that is for this construction. I praise this decision and also find the construction or rebuilding as a necessity.
I found this article to be impressive with its structure, complexity, and its articulance. The introduction of multiple quotes of the schools’ fashion leaders and staff strengthens the credibility of this article. Although, I find that the addition of quotes from other school leaders, teachers, or adminastration from other pathways would add further complexity and credibility. All in all, Terrazas highlights the importance of this construction and provides clear details of how our school will ultimately benefit from this 2-year construction plan.
Ella Cates • Oct 14, 2025 at 9:45 am
When I read through this article written in the latest October Corydon news, this article about our school construction was justified by my own opinion on what is occurring. I agree that it has caused a lot of distractions in and outside of class. During class, there are constant sounds of drills or trucks moving around, while outside of the building, there are many walkways blocked, causing lots of backup to get to classes. For example, the 300 only had one entrance and existed from the first week of school to the second level, and every day, students were stuck trying to get up the stairs. Even though it is hard to manage things currently, these renovations will be super nice and will make our environment super nice. Having A/C next year will make a huge impact. Learning in classes without A/C at the beginning of the year when it’s in its high 80s makes class feel 10x longer and much harder to concentrate.
I had no idea that the construction would be helping the disabled kids because I couldn’t imagine how hard it is for them to get around school, as there are many uneven grounds and lots of stairs. This has brought many questions to my attention, one being How long until all the buildings will have A/C? Why will the 700 building be torn down? The 700 building is a staple of our school, where we have our football room, fashion room, and ASB. These are major rooms that shape our school and bring our community together. Where will they be placing these huge “warehouses” that store all our school supplies, fashion machines, etc? Due to them needing lots of room to complete tasks.
Terrazas’ tone was very clear and direct, making it very easy to understand and could be understood by all audiences. She provided the positives that have come with the construction of all A/C buildings, but also mentioned the negatives of noise and congestion. This piece struck me and made me realize that I am not the only one who feels that it has been impacted by everyday education, but that also other students and teachers are realizing the drawbacks. I hope that the year 2027 does not get pushed back any longer because we have been pushing through, and it would be nice for us to have a refurbished school environment soonerrather than later.
Riley • Oct 14, 2025 at 9:44 am
I recently came across this article while exploring the recent articles published by Corydon and this subject stood out to me because it is something every Millikan student can relate to. Alyssa did an amazing job encompassing both the positive said and the negative said to learning in a school that is under construction. I agree with the fact that we need air conditioning and also to be more ADA compliant to make everyone feel welcomed. I do agree that this will be great for Millikan but on the other hand the loud noise can sometimes be a bit distracting. Terrazas should continue this piece throughout the year to see how students are feeling about the construction as time passes.
I admire that Terrazas added not only the students perspective but the perspective of a teacher who teaches right by all the construction. By doing this it makes sure that multiple perspectives are being acknowledged to get a sense of how everyone is feeling , not only the students or teachers. Furthermore, this topic is fascinating because we all are wrapping our heads around the construction and what it means going forward with our education and this article sheds light to this important subject. However I am concerned that many students and teachers are being distracted with the noise and changes around campus. This can lead to many different scenarios so therefore I believe Corydon should follow up with the students and teachers about the distractions and how they are dealing with it in their day to day lives at Millikan.
Terrazas perfectly describes many of the feelings of teacher,students, and staff here at Millikan belonging to gathering differing perspectives and highlighting the good that will come out of construction. According to Terrazas the new building will be energy efficient while still having air conditioning and many are wondering how will this be done? In addition, the strength that the quotes have adds a sense of community to the article because it uses people who are first-hand dealing with the issues of learning under construction. I applaud her for taking the time to conduct these interviews to add the sense of community and overall strengthen the points being made through the article.
Samantha Camberos • Oct 14, 2025 at 9:40 am
October 14, 2025
Dear Corydon Editor,
On October 7, 2025, Alyssa Terrazas wrote an article titled “Constructing a New Millikan” . After reading this article, I was thoroughly informed about some of the new technologies that Millikan High School will implement after construction. I also appreciate how the author alluded to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Many students at our school have disabilities and this article does a fantastic job of mentioning how students, especially ones who use wheelchairs, will now have increased accessibility in the buildings.
Moreover, I admire how the author incorporated interviews from different perspectives about the construction. The quote from Ms. Palsgrove effectively offered insight about how conditions for disabled students will improve. Additionally, she mentioned that the 700 building would be demolished, further educating others about some of the reconstruction that would take place. On the other hand, the quote from the student, Kenzie Longino, concisely offered her opposing perspective on the construction. However, my only suggestion would be to include more of her opinion on why the construction fails to consider students. This would allow other students to consider her perspective and understand her concerns.
In conclusion, I enjoyed reading this article and I have gained some insight about the construction taking place at Millikan. I respect that the author took the time to consider differing perspectives about the matter. This allows students to better form an opinion when they have access to opposing arguments. During a time where most information regarding Millikan’s construction state is kept limited, I appreciate how the article dove into some of the policies and technological advancements that would be taken into account. Overall, this article was very informative and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Sincerely,
Samantha Camberos
Matteo Palma • Oct 14, 2025 at 9:37 am
This piece captivated my attention through her detailed accounting of many different stories throughout the Millikan community. Terrazas took many different perspectives into account while writing this article, which will have a lasting impression on her readers. Terrezas asserts the view of an annoyed student and a teacher who has mixed feelings about the renovation at Millikan. It would have been nice if Terrazas could have captured the perspective of one of the many construction workers, but I understand that it was not completely necessary. The addition of more air conditioning and heating will aid in many students’ learning, by providing a better learning environment.
Not only is the construction helping to support healthy learning environments, but it also will yield a way for students with wheelchairs to access these classrooms. Terrazas wrote that the 700 building be torn down, is it being renovated or removed? It is said that the noise that this construction yields makes it hard for some students to focus even though the workers have designated work hours. These hours can be during our nutrition and lunch and at the beginning of our classes rather than throughout.
Terrazas gives the information that the renovations will end in 2027 after beginning in January 2025, which means that our current seniors will not be able to experience the renovated campus. In their last year of high school they have to coexist with a fourth of their campus being off limits. Has there been any sort of plans for reimbursement of some sort for said seniors? This concern marks my final for the ongoing construction at Millikan, but this piece answered many of my questions and it gave me peace of mind that the renovations comply with the ADA.
Olivia • Oct 13, 2025 at 1:57 pm
On October 7, 2025, Alyssa Terrazas, wrote an article titled “Constructing a New Millikan”. This article highlighted the current state of Millikan High School whilst undergoing construction explaining how it’s bringing light to a new era of our school with progressing advancements and better equipped facilities for all attending students at Millikan. Terraza explained that these changes to our school consist of HVAC units inside each building, which positively benefits students and teachers during transitional periods of weather. Alongside the addition of HVAC units in our buildings, the campus is being altered to create and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act allowing accessibility for millions of students. This article has identified the beneficial aspects of what this construction is doing to further enhance millikan as a whole.
Few factors of concerns mentioned were the disruptive nature of the construction. This has not only affected students yet teachers as well. Construction is estimated to come to an end in 2027, unfoundedly for students and teachers it is another year of class being disrupted by loud noises, teachers being put in random buildings in order to accommodate construction. The reward of construction in the end overshadows the compromise that students are currently having to make, although the students and teachers that plan to retire or graduate in the next year will not be able to enjoy the new campus and are leaving this school in a state of repair. As explained in this article Terrazas gathered student and teacher opinions on construction and response came back with a neutral meeting point. It’s almost impossible to learn while hearing the sounds of a jackhammer, for nobody it’s an easy adjustment.
With the adjustment of construction around student schedules as the Community Meeting Report stated, will this have any effect on the approximated end date for construction. The time taken away from students and teachers already has been disruptive and a hassle for rearranging and moving classroom supplies and desks. Is this adjustment going to be longer and further disruptive for our school environment, is the compromise worth the wait?
Jack Walsh • Oct 13, 2025 at 1:27 pm
This article provides excellent information regarding the construction of the new and improved 200 and the surrounding buildings here on campus. It says in the article that the new building will be “seismically safer” and also include air conditioning with other components, which will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With this new information about the building being brought to light, does it bring into question the safety of the other older buildings on campus, such as the 400 and 300? These buildings don’t have air conditioning and can be considerably hot during the spring and summer months. As a result, should these buildings be put under construction as well? If so, I think the students and the school would greatly benefit from the new and improved buildings.
Including the teachers’ and students’ perspectives also provided a great insight as to what the people here at Millikan think about the construction. That area of the school has been under construction for a while now, and it has noticeably affected the entry to and flow of students into and out of school in that area. It has also been a source of loud noise, which the student who was interviewed pointed out. However, despite the loud noise, I would think that the air conditioning and other advancements done to the building would make the slightly undesirable experience more worthwhile. Would it have been better to have the majority of the construction completed during the summer to try and prevent these issues?
With all of this in mind, this article provides great insight into the behind-the-scenes information surrounding the construction here on campus. And as a junior, it makes it exciting as to what the new building has to offer the students here at Millikan when it is completed. When it is completed, I’m sure it’ll stand as a great symbol at Millikan and make students excited to learn and make them think more about what the future has in store.
Makellah Mahan • Oct 13, 2025 at 1:23 pm
On October 7, 2025, Alyssa Terrazas wrote an article titled “Constructing a New Millikan”. This article disscusses the recent construction that plauges our school and goes into futher detail about the reasons why. As a student I feel like we get overlooked during school-wide decisions, as it pertains to the construction, I feel like I was not notified with enough time to prepare. I heard complaints from teachers who felt that they did not have enough time to move their class and that they had to come in during their time off the move their belongings.
However, this article does an amazing job at making the students and teachers feel heard and seen, their complaints finally aired instead of being ignored. For example, the author uses interviews from teachers and students discussing the noise of the construction as well as the tearing down of buildings. The article also goes into further detail about the reasons why Millikan is enacting construction which I truly appreciate as I feel the school never sent out information about the goals of construction and students were left to guess and listen to rumors. By utilizing facts and quotes, the author allows those whose voices become drowned out in schoolwide decisions become represented. The only thing that I would add is the expected finish date if that information is apparent.
All in all, the article does a wonderful job at representing those who are ignored as well as educating the Millikan population on a topic that is taboo. Thank you Alyssa Terrazas for your educational contribution to the Millikan community.
chase cantwell • Oct 13, 2025 at 11:55 am
On October 7, 2025, Alyssa Terrazas wrote an article titled “Constructing a New Millikan”. The construction of Millikan has caused many challenges for us students, especially for upperclassmen. Us juniors and seniors will never even get to benefit from this construction, as we will have graduated by the time it is completed. We have to deal with the subsequent lack of parking, and the school has not made any efforts to make this process convenient for us.
One of the biggest challenges we are facing is the lack of parking. Students are completely prohibited from parking in the lots at school as a result of the construction. As a result, I have to choose between being at school an hour early to find parking, or park at the surrounding businesses and risk being towed. Us students have to deal with stressful schoolwork and studying, along with the physical burden for those of us in sports. Yet, we are not even granted the liberty of a free chance at obtaining parking. It would be more fair if the parking lots were a first come, first serve ordeal, which would allow parking for everyone equally.
I hope Millikan administration can understand us students to allow for a fair compromise regarding parking. The current situation is completely unfair to us juniors and seniors.
Julia Silva • Oct 13, 2025 at 11:36 am
On October 7, 2025, Alyssa Terrazas wrote an article titled “Constructing a New Millikan”. I want to thank you for writing this article regarding the construction of Millikan. It has been going on for a little while now and it’s nice to hear someone’s perspective on it. If that information is accessible, it would be nice to know when the 200 building will be done or when other buildings on campus will begin to undergo construction. I appreciate how you mentioned that the construction will conclude in 2027, I had been wondering.
It’s positive news to know that our campus will be upgraded in a couple years. It would benefit everyone. I was glad to hear there would be air conditioning, especially in the summer months since it was very warm and some classes didn’t have air conditioning. It’s nice to know that our upgraded campus will also help students with disabilities. It isn’t fair how complicated or tedious it can be for students with wheelchairs or other disabilities to get to class. Including a bit more information about these upgrades would be useful.
I wanted to thank you again for writing this article, the information in it was very helpful. I’m looking forward to seeing the new campus. I’m going to graduate by the time it’s done, but I have a sibling who will be able to enjoy it.
Liliana Barrios • Oct 13, 2025 at 11:25 am
On October 7, 2025, Alyssa Terrazas wrote an article titled “Constructing a New Millikan”. It is very nice to learn more about the construction happening at our school. Terrazas’ clearly lays out the purpose of the renovation projects such as making the campus seismically safer, ADA-compliant, and climate controlled. This article also voices both student and teacher perspectives, such as Ms. Palsgrove’s optimism and Kenzie Longino’s frustration with noise which give the article human dimension.
I am also glad that this article does not shy away from acknowledging the negative impacts such as the noise and disruption the construction burdens our school with. Additionally, I suggest that since the construction has blocked off a good amount of our school the campus has felt way more crowded. However, I also do agree the outcome will be worth it in the long run. I appreciate the writer taking the time to write about the topic and agree that these new additions will be very beneficial to the school and certainly to the students as well.