The Cyprus High School yoga class will be moved to the pool-deck balcony to create space for larger special education classrooms according to yoga teacher Kylie English. The move announced two months ago has no confirmed date leaving both students and staff preparing for a transition that could happen at any time. 

The relocation comes as administrators work to address space limitations in the special education department. English said the current special education rooms are “very small,” and two classes will be moved into the space which is currently being used for yoga. “We are moving into the pool decks to give other classrooms the ability to have larger space,” she said.

English, who has taught at the high school for three years, said the shift was unexpected but understandable. She noted that the school promised not to move the class until the new area is fully equipped with a whiteboard, ViewSonic, blinds and lighting so students will not lose basic classroom tools. “Thankfuly, we are not supposed to move until the classroom space is prepared for us,” English said. 

While English believes the transition will be “fairly seamless,” the location creates some challenges. The balcony setup means students will have to position themselves away from the wall during balancing postures for safety. English said she is also not looking forward to the stairs leading to the space which will make it difficult to let in late students or those returning with passes. 

Students share mixed feelings about the upcoming change. Senior Dani Anderson who is on the Cyprus varsity swim team and in a yoga class said the move feels “a little unnecessary, especially so late in the semester.” Anderson's main concerns include the brightness of the new space which currently lacks curtains and the class's proximity to a bathroom. “I also think that being right next to a bathroom might be weird if someone stinks it up,” Anderson said. 

Anderson also predicted an increase in tardiness because the space is further from central hallways and located under another classroom, making it harder for late students to be noticed. However, Anderson hopes the new area will offer a quieter environment than the current room, which is often disturbed by noisy hall traffic. 

Despite concerns, both English and Anderson noted some positives. English said she is looking forward to having an attached bathroom and water-bottle filling station, along with views of the mountains. Anderson said she hopes the new location will be “a nice isolated change” that doesn’t interfere with the class's atmosphere. 

Still, Anderson said the situation reflects poor planning. “They should've planned ahead and made this decision before school started,” she said, adding that the pool deck “is not really even a room.”

As the school waits for the new space to be completed students remain unsure when the move will occur. Until then many say they will miss the current room's darker lighting, quieter atmosphere and familiar layout.