Most students and teachers arrived on the first day of school to find a renovated school and new classrooms. But when T.V. production teacher Kevin Houchins and culinary arts teachers Chef Kortez Wilson and Danette McHale returned from their summer vacations, they found their classrooms were not yet  completed.

BHS Principal Ed Klein explained that these two rooms were last on the construction schedule because the school was prepared to make changes to accommodate these classes during the school year.

In the TV production room, the computer lab is completed, but other components have yet to be finished.

“The studio portion of the classroom and master control room are not completed,” Houchins said.

Even if the  studio were fully constructed, it would not yet be fully functional since some equipment has not yet arrived at the high school. According to Houchins, one major component was just released on the market on Sept. 12th.

“It’s like we waited and just got the new iPhone. Instead of getting the iPhone 5, we got the iPhone S or C… We slowed down a little bit to make sure we get the best [equipment] as opposed to trying to rush and get [what was available],” Houchins said.

Houchin’s T.V. students are currently working in the classroom area. The students are learning camera skills first. Next they will move on to filming.

Last year the T.V. production room was upstairs in the south gym, isolated from the rest of the school.

The students are really looking forward to the new room.

“I am very excited about it..,” sophomore Bradford Douglas said.

This new studio will help train students interested in film or television careers.

“Having a professional studio in the school is going to be a very nice experience,” senior David Corty said.

The Bistro is another room that is not complete.The components that aren’t finished include a new  room where the food is prepared for presentation, as well a new storage room. Most of the equipment had to be deconstructed during the construction and now has to be reconstructed.

Students also can’t access the restaurant kitchen. In the meantime, they are currently working in the cafeteria kitchen practicing their knife skills and getting certification in ServeSafe®, which is the industry standard training for safely serving food to the public.

Students are happy to be learning in a brand new facility.

“I’m excited about the new classroom,” said junior Porsche Moore, who is in her first year in the program. “I’m also excited about the new restaurant area and how everything will be brand new.”

The Bistro is delayed due to the construction. It is expected to open in the next few months.

Due to the technical nature of T.V. production and culinary arts, it may have been inevitable that setup for these classrooms took longer.

“It was a necessity that time was taken to get the appropriate equipment and have everything set up so that you guys have the absolute best, which is what we expect here in Beachwood,” Houchins said.

For now, as the rooms are being completed, the teaching continues.