Chandler elementary celebrates new media center

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Joining the nationwide trend of adding media centers, elementary school Frye Elementary in Chandler held a Jan. 30 ribbon-cutting that included lots of clapping.

And instrumental music. And cheer. And singing.

That’s what happened as Frye students, faculty, staff and Chandler Unified leadership joined in. The ribbon-cutting celebrated all the new facets of Frye’s HUB Media Center, paid for with 2019 bond funds.

Superintendent Frank Narducci thanked many people and organizations, including current Frye Principal Alexis Cruz-Freeman and former Principal Lisa Shore, along with the architect and construction companies.

The center includes a large, carpeted, central area with traditional-esque books on shelves, sorted into fiction and nonfiction.

The main room also includes two sensory walls and comfortable seating available that can be configured many ways.

There’s a side room “mini-library” that can be used for a variety of reading activities. A conference room can be used as a quieter place for activities that require a large table.

A new STEM lab has a laser-cutting machine and a classroom off of the main hallway appear to already be in everyday use at the school, which opened in 1979.

Narducci said a Frye group visited the Arizona State University Innovation Center in downtown Chandler for some STEM problem-solving skills was one motivation among district leaders to create a similar space on the Frye campus.

“It still felt like a field trip,” Narducci said of going off-site to solve problems. “Being creative and solving problems should be things students are doing every day.”

Helping with the ribbon-cutting for the media center were Chandler Unified Governing Board President Patti Serrano, Sue Gray of BWS Architects, Frye students, Cruz-Freeman and the school’s mascot, Freddy Falcon.

A student song, instrumental music from students and a thank-you read by a young student highlighted the event.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.   Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.