THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508240171
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Although the smell of freshly painted walls, the buzz of drills and the sound of blaring rock music rule the halls of Baylake Pines Private School now, director Joan Eckert isn't worried.
Living by the school's ``you are what you think you are'' philosophy, Eckert knows when the doors open Sept. 5, the countless hours of work and last-minute ``nitty gritty'' will be well worth the stress.
Since June, the 41-year-old Baylake Pines school has undergone a face lift that includes the addition of seven classrooms, restrooms, a kitchen, gymnasium and office complex, which translates into more than 18,000 square feet. A soccer field, which will include a baseball diamond later in the year, is the new outdoor attraction.
This renovation is quite an undertaking for a small proprietary school with a student body of around 500 from age 3 through eighth grade.
``We've almost doubled this whole school size with the additions,'' said Eckert, who co-owns the school with her husband, Thomas. ``It's healthy for the children and I think it's important.'' The couple purchased the school from the Rev. Elmer Bosserman and his wife, Margaret, in 1978.
Two buildings make up Baylake Pines: the lower school at 2204 Treasure Island Road and the upper school and offices at 4444 Shore Drive. The eight-acre Shore Drive location is where most of the renovation has taken place.
A building designed especially for the middle school-aged students is one of the additions. Eckert figured many students had outgrown their working space.
``Older children need bigger facilities,'' she said of the new 30-by-30 classrooms with 10-foot-high ceilings.
Tight quarters also are limiting when it comes to offering a variety of activities. Although Baylake Pines students start French from kindergarten, laboratory experiments from second grade and absorb a large portion of art and drama all along, space has been a factor.
``Even though we were being judged on our programs and not the building, it limits you when you don't have the proper size corridors and classrooms,'' Eckert said. ``We never tried to emulate anybody else. We're a very practical school in terms of physical plant, because I really believe it's what goes on in the classrooms.''
The field and gym will give soccer and basketball players a home, so they won't have to borrow other schools' facilities. The full-size gym also will serve as an in-house meeting place for the entire student body - a first for Baylake Pines.
The project hasn't been an easy one to cram into less than three months, and Eckert said the fine-tuning has been the toughest part.
``It is insanity,'' she said. ``There are so many details to building that aren't obvious.''
From mechanical basketball nets to office furniture to portable stages, the particulars have been countless. Since renovations don't happen every day, Eckert has worked hard - sometimes spending 18 hours a day at the school - to make sure everything turns out perfect.
``I'm trying to make it very high quality,'' she said of the things she's ordered. ``You want it to look nice and last long.''
The first day is less than two weeks away and Eckert can't wait for the students and staff to pour in the new halls.
``If I get any more excited, I'll die,'' she said. ``I've been telling everyone to dig a hole next to the building and put up a sign that says: `Here she lies. She gave you her building and her life.' ''
Eckert added, ``This is our school, this is our baby and this is something we've been committed to. I really believe in what we're doing here.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by HOLLY WESTER
Baylake Pines Private School director Joan Eckert expects renovation
to be finished by Sept. 5.
by CNB