BRENTWOOD, Pa., October 14, 2026 – When Brentwood Middle-High School students and staff returned to school in September they found a library/media center that was completely transformed during the Summer.
Soon after the 2025-26 school year ended in early June, the district began a significant renovation of the media center. In addition to fiction and non-fiction library books students can check out, the space includes these new features for Brentwood students and staff:
-Podcast station
-Green screen
-One touch recording studio
-Kitchenette and Spartan Coffee Company
-Small and large group instruction spaces
-Long S-shaped couch
-Device charging station
-Personal study booths
“It’s fantastic; I’m very excited for the students,” said Jennifer Hughes, who teaches Communications, Digital Media and the Entrepreneurship class that runs the new Spartan Coffee Company. ”The room has opened up and it’s so much more welcoming.
“It’s nice equipment,” added Hughes, who also is the high school yearbook advisor. “I’ve heard about the Black Magic (green screen) set-up for a few years and now we have one. Technology is always changing, so it’s nice to have the latest and greatest.”
The push to transform the library into a modern media center came from one the district’s learning groups. Middle School principal David Radcliffe and a group of teachers from the learning group began to consider all the possibilities for the space. The learning group included MS-HS teachers Amy Kiryk, Erin Meckler, Jaime Staab and Hughes.
“A committee of teachers and I visited Fluxspace,” Radcliffe said of the company located near Pittsburgh’s West End Park. “We split up into two groups and gave them ideas on design and instruction spaces. Then the Fluxspace staff entered our ideas into their software. We came back together, saw what they came up with and merged the ideas into a plan.”
Joining Radcliffe on the committee were MS-HS educators Lily Alba, Caitlin Caponi, Nick Caponi, Amy Kiryk,
Kevin Patterson, Marcia Schweitzer and Chris Weaver.
Students played an important part what was to be included in the media center, which was funded by a $100,00 Ready to Learn grant the district applied for.
“There was a committee of students last year; a focus group,” Radcliffe stated. “They provided input for what they would like to see in a re-configured library.”
“They came up with a plan and then talked to us about it,” said Thatcher Eriole, who is a 9th grade student and was on the committee. “We met 3-4 times; there were 8-10 students on the committee. It’s pretty cool; it’s first class. We wanted to be more comfortable in the library. I’m looking to get something started; maybe a football podcast with some friends.”
Jarie Ripley, an 8th grade student, also was a member of the student committee.
“We talked about getting more comfortable seating and more flexible times to be in the library,” Ripley said. “Some of my friends are trying to recruit me to do a podcast.”
Primary Goals for Renovation
Radcliffe said the district had three primary goals in mind with the library/media center renovation:
-It would remain an instructional space; there are multiple locations for instruction;
-Include the students’ idea of having a large gathering space that was the central hub of the building;
-Have the space to look and feel similar to what students will see post-secondary.
“It’s really cool and impressive,” stated senior Fawn Brendel. “It’s a modern space; it’s comfortable and clean.
We’ve had Calculus class in the library. It’s a small class so we just sit at one of the tables. My Physics class will use the green screen; we need to have clean video. It’s nice for the Entrepreneurship class and Spartan Coffee.”
“I’m glad they changed it,” said senior Andrew Schmidt. “I’m interested in the podcast set-up. I might do a podcast with a couple of friends; it would probably be about music and bands. It’s cooler in there; a good place to hang out.”
The new media center quickly became a popular location for classes, especially during the warm days of September. The room has four distinct areas that can all be used at the same time for instruction. There is a sign-up system for teachers who want to hold class in the media center.
“It’s much different than a traditional classroom,” Radcliffe commented. “There are opportunities for collaboration in every part of the space. When classes are being held in the media center, we want kids to talk and solve problems together.”
“This space has been under-utilized for awhile,” Hughes said. “Now it feels more like a college lounge.
The yearbook students are really excited about it. They really enjoy podcasting; we’ll do a podcasting unit and a newscast unit. We’re starting a middle school media club and podcasting will be the first thing we do.”
Hughes will teach Journalism during the second semester and the media center will be utilized for several units, including podcasting, creating video news stories and doing mock weather forecasts. Later this year, the green screen will be utilized by students for the daily morning announcements, which Hughes does via the school’s public address system.
A Home for Spartan Coffee Company
The renovation of the library also provided an opportunity to create a physical space and the official launch of the Spartan Coffee Company. There was limited coffee service last year, started by then-juniors Lily Barker and Delaney Rosing with the assistance of Mrs. Hughes.
During the library renovation, a storage closet was converted into a kitchenette, providing Spartan Coffee with its own space in the building’s central hub. The Entrepreneurship class (1st period) runs the coffee operation, which is typically open three days a week and has quickly proven to be popular (63 orders in the first three days). Students and staff can order via a QR code by 8:05 a.m. and then students will bring the order and collect the payment (cash or Venmo). Coffee, hot chocolate, bagels and Rice Krispie treats are among the offerings.
“Spartan Coffee Company will be run by the Entrepreneurship class and some of our life skills students,” Radcliffe stated. “It will bring them together and be a career opportunity for some of the kids. We envision the library as the central hub at the beginning of the day. It (Spartan Coffee) will open before first period as students and staff are arriving.”
“The students had to apply for a position and everyone has a job – managers, baristas, bakery, inventory, budget, cashier, order runners and cleaners,” Hughes said.
Most reference books were removed from the library.
“Our committee decided we didn’t need all the reference books since students are doing their research online,” Radcliffe commented. “Across all disciplines, the way students get information is so different than it used to be. They are getting information from podcasts and platforms that are outside of the mainstream media. We kept the fiction and non-fiction books so students can still check them out.
“The maintenance staff was instrumental in everything coming together,” Radcliffe said. “From last October until May we did all the planning. As soon as school was done, they went to work in the space, along with doing everything else they needed to do during the Summer. Our goal was for the space to be ready by the start of school and because of the maintenance team it was.
“What a complete difference this space is now compared to what it was before, he added. “The reaction has been great from students and staff.”
The Brentwood Borough School District is located six miles south of downtown Pittsburgh and serves approximately 1,100 students. The district will open the new Brentwood Elementary School on January 6, 2027.