Rain pours down on a gloomy Monday morning, and all students have to shield themselves is a little umbrella and a hoodie. They walk into class completely soaked, uncomfortable from their drenched clothes. Now, imagine there were roofs between each quad on campus to prevent this situation from happening. How many more days of being soaked between each class do we have to deal with before the school makes this critical change?
Rainy days at school are more than just an inconvenience; they are a full-on battle against getting drenched before even making it to class. With so many open walkways and leaky roofs, students are left using backpacks, hoodies, or anything else they can find to stay dry. It is time for CUSD to invest in better campus coverage, not just for comfort—but for safety.
One of the biggest issues is the lack of overhead coverage between buildings—for example, any pathway to theatre building, or between the 700s and 800s. Arriving soaked after walking from class to class in the rain makes it vastly harder to focus and feel comfortable throughout the day. Wet clothes, slippery floors, and water-damaged notebooks (backpacks uncovered by an umbrella) should not become an accepted norm. CHS freshman, Makeda Keab shares her thoughts about the issue.
“I think that it could be really stressful to be outside in the rain, especially in an outdoor school,” Keab said. “I think that additional roofs would be really helpful to our environment here on campus.”
Another major problem is the leaking roofs, especially in the main hallway. When it rains, water drips through the cracks of whatever covered areas do exist on campus, creating puddles in areas with high foot traffic. Not only is this an annoyance, but it is also a safety hazard. Slippery floors increase the risk of students and staff slipping and getting hurt. Fixing these leaks, reinforcing the roofs, and preventing these accidents should be a top priority before they worsen and become more expensive to fix.
An effective solution for these issues would be installing more covered walkways between buildings, giving students protection from the rain as they move from class to class. These walkways do not just help during storms, but also provide shade on hot, sunny days, making the campus more comfortable year-round.
Another effective improvement would be upgrading drainage systems in areas that experience high foot traffic. Puddles that form around campus often form due to poor drainage, making it easier for water to accumulate. By ensuring that rainwater is directed away from walkways, the risk of slippery surfaces can be reduced.
Beyond just comfort and safety, improving campus coverage would directly support student success. When students are distracted by wet clothes, ruined assignments, and the risk of slipping, it is harder to focus in class. Learning should always be the priority at school, but it is difficult to concentrate when students are shivering in a damp hoodie or worrying about whether their iPads will survive the rain. By investing in better campus coverage, CHS would be showing that it values student well-being and recognizes the importance of creating an environment where students can learn. A well-designed campus should support students, not add to their stress, and making these improvements would be a step toward a better, more student-friendly school experience.
