This year, Edina Public Schools has introduced a new task force devoted to refurbishing and renovating all buildings for the next generation of learning. The Facilities Advisory Task Force (FATF) began in August, and consists of Edina parents, EHS alumni, Edina community members, administrative staff, teachers, architects, and two current students. The last meeting of the year was Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Josh Felton, a freshman at Valley View Middle School, is a member of the task force. He shared his views on the importance of including students, “We can provide a different view,” he said. “Most of the parents have not been at the schools when they are in session; they do not know how crowded the hallways are.” He explained that during meetings, the force divided into groups of four members, with the district’s communications director and the lead architect circulating. The groups discussed information they received about district facilities and offered ideas.

“Alumni know what school was like years ago, and how it prepared them for secondary education,” Felton said, explaining the importance of everyone on the task force. “Basically, we got all the information about the school capacity, and how the students feel, new generations, renovations, and we worked to get our school ready for the next generation of learning.”

EHS senior Dennis Bao is also on the FATF. “As a student, I feel like my voice is being heard. We are encouraged because [the adults] know what school is like from a teacher’s standpoint, an administrator’s standpoint, but I am able to give them my view of the school,” he said. The main goal of the task force is to integrate more spaces for flexible learning. “Most of the alumni went to school in the sixties, seventies, eighties,” Bao said. “We can provide a perspective of the school now, and how technology is integrated.”