If you have walked down the science and math hallway on the third floor this school year, you may have noticed that what used to be two classrooms on the inside and outside of the math IMC used for teaching math courses, have now transformed into a brand new laboratory for the Westside Science Department.

Beginning with the class of 2015, Westside increased the number of semesters that a student had to take of science courses from four to six. Because of this change in graduation requirements, the Science Department knew that their course sizes would enlarge. Many of their most popular electives were already sharing a room to begin with (i.e. Forensics and Ecology), so Science Department chair Brenda Zabel approached math’s department chair Angela Mosier early in the spring of this year.

“They [the Math Department] were incredibly easy to work with,” Zabel said. “Very flexible and willing to listen to why we [the Science Department] thought this was necessary, and finding a way to make it happen.”

Mosier understood the department’s situation, and gave her complete cooperation.

“I try to play nice,” Mosier said. “They [the Science Deparment] were looking for several spaces where they could put a new lab. There was an option to put it in the classrooms where it currently exists, as well as downstairs. But because they would have to haul equipment up and down stairs, I knew that our former classrooms were more ideal, as they are just across the hall.”

Before approaching Mosier about the department’s need for an expansion, Zabel initially proposed the idea to Principal Maryanne Ricketts. After getting the okay from Ricketts, Zabel met with Superintendent Blane McCann as well as former assistant superintendent Andrew Rikli, both of whom gave Zabel their “stamp of approval”.

Whereas Zabel was more involved with getting the new lab approved, science instructor Patrick Caffey was heavily involved in the process of making the initial design of the lab so that it would utilize the space as effectively and efficiently as possible.

“The room was designed with the intent that it could be used by many different science courses,” Caffey said. “The room is equipped with gas, a hood for ventilation, two projectors, a lab area as well as a separate discussion area.”

Caffey also hopes in the future to incorporate Apple TVs into the classroom so that teachers can live sync with their computers and iPads onto the Apple TV device.

Both Zabel and Caffey agree that when it comes to the new lab, they have Mosier and the Math Department to thank for allowing them to utilize their former classrooms.

“We do thank them,” Caffey said. “It was a space they utilized and was really close. We have to be thankful that they were willing to give up those rooms for us.”