By Annie Goodykoontz

   You may have noticed something missing at Tempe Prep recently: the trees in front of the school are suddenly gone! 

   Headmaster Dr. Porter explained,  “The pine trees along Southern Avenue were cut down due to a beetle infestation that killed several of the trees and was attacking the others,” he said “We tried treating them to kill the beetles, but it didn’t work.” The removal cost about $2,000. 

   According to Dr. Porter, the removal was solely because of the infestation, Dr. Porter said. “Some thought we cut them down to open up a view of the new building but that is not accurate,” he said. Plans are already underway to replace the trees that had been cut down.

   This isn’t the only change happening at Tempe Prep. Another upcoming addition to the Tempe Prep campus is the Athletic Performance Center. “The Athletic Performance Center is awaiting flooring and all of the equipment before it will be open,” Dr. Porter said. “All of that should be installed by the end of December, so we expect it will be up and running for January.”

   The Zelman Center has also undergone some renovations in the past year. Dr. Porter said, “The Zelman is being turned into the new faculty office space. It should be ready for the teachers to move in over winter break.”

   Lastly, the new building is undergoing some final touches. “These will be completed as workers come to do the touch-up on all three projects—the new building, Zelman, and the APC (Athletic Performance Center),” Dr. Porter said.