Ravi Chugh and Emily Lent

The start of the new school year reveals many changes and updates around campus. Anyone who visited the Deerfield campus will have seen the grounds crew staff laboring on the quad, the Lower Level, and in and around John Williams, as well as the construction trucks, equipment, and workers surrounding John Williams dormitory and the soon-to-be Harold Smith dormitory.

Over the summer, construction of Harold Smith and of the second faculty apartment for John Williams began.

"Both projects are ahead of schedule," said Chuck Williams, director of the Physical Plant. The fire exit through the addition in John Williams is completed, and the rest of the addition may be completed by late fall. Harold Smith will not be completed until next summer.

In an interview last spring, Headmaster Eric Widmer said he will not oversee anymore construction on the upper level once Harold Smith and John Williams are completed.

The area around John Williams has not been the only construction site on campus.

"We've had a lot going on this summer' said Mr. Williams. Other projects have included Johnson dormitory, several faculty home renovations, building of drainage and irrigation systems, laying of brick sidewalks, and resodding lawns.

A longer-term project that is also underway is construction of new tennis courts on the lower level. The site plans for the new tennis courts have recently been rejected by the Deerfield Planning Board. The Academy is pursuing an appeal to this decision, because, in the Academy's opinion, the Planning Board has gone beyond its authority.