Carl Sandburg students got their first in-depth look at the construction process for the school’s new stage when three eighth-grade students from Tiger News Network (TNN) broadcast an interview they recorded in the partially completed building addition.
On Oct. 10, Addy Schaefer, Molly Grobarek and Olivia Max-Boyle, students in CSMS Digital Literacy Teacher Brian Longley’s class, interviewed Dave Zaremba, Director of Facilities, Maintenance and Construction for District 75, and Chad Nate, Senior Superintendent with Stuckey Construction. They broadcast the report five days later on TNN for CSMS students and staff.
Zaremba walked the students through the work site and gave a brief overview of the project. The students, dressed in orange vests and hard hats, videotaped Zaremba as he led them around the construction area. They went into the dressing room area, down corridors and onto the stage, shooting video of the concrete walls and unfinished floors as construction crews worked nearby.
The students followed Zaremba into the school’s front foyer, which is also being rebuilt. He showed them the structure of the new canopy which will eventually be enclosed by glass.
Olivia and Addy took turns interviewing the construction superintendent with prepared questions while Molly worked the video camera. Nate said there haven’t been setbacks and that the project continues to be ahead of schedule and within budget. He also told them that workers are now finishing the structural work (putting up steel and brick) and getting ready to begin the finishing work (drywall and painting).
The project, which will include a handicapped accessible stage, dressing rooms and storage, began in March of 2025. It will continue to be used for the school’s Adaptive PE program while having room for about 200 seats during stage performances. It will also provide a much-needed dedicated practice room for performing arts. The room could also be rented out for local performing arts companies and community events as needed.
Tiger News Network (TNN) Report