Upon his retirement at the conclusion of the 2023-24, Col. Sandala was honored this week with an airport to replace the lacrosse practice field near the Administration Building. The project costs a measly $81 million and is projected to finish around the start of the 2024-25 school year.
“I’m so thankful for Norwin over my career and I’m ecstatic about this proposal,” said Col. Sandala. “I would like to extend my thanks to the school board for being so generous with our funds and allowing my name to be honored forever.”
Norwin also plans to implement an aviation class taught by Mr. Kevin Chitester and will teach those ages 9-12, the business side of owning an airport and how to fly into decades of profits.
“Kids will be expected to leave our school and work in upper administration in the new airport,” said Chitester. “Once you graduate, we will put students through TSA safety training in order to prepare them for the real world.”
The plan will include a single terminal, 24 gates, and the inclusion of a statue of Col. Sandala similar to the Franco Harris statue at Pittsburgh International.
“The statue reminds kids that I’m always watching,” said Sandala. “Always watching.”
The Director of Food Services and Transportation at Norwin, Mr. Stewart, plans to incorporate MRE (Made Ready-to-eat) into all three Norwin lunch periods in order to comply with the airport and growing Aviation Club.
“We have a great program starting right at home in Norwin,” said Stewart. “Kids are going to have a tough time trying to get jobs at airports straight out of high school and Norwin will provide that option.”
Norwin seniors Luke ‘Maverick’ Sandala, son of Col. Sandala, Alex ‘Ice Man’ Graham, Hunter ‘Cougar’ Shumber, and Jackson ‘Viper’ Genicola plan to return to pilot the first planes out of Col. Sandala Airport.
Genicola offered a similar perspective.
“Flying is a unique experience. I always wanted to be Superman and the ability to be Superman right here is something special,” said Genicola. “I pray to God that nobody else flies these planes though. Our test runs were horrific. Heavy turbulence and very hard to control.”
Genicola plans to fly the planes for Norwin’s volleyball team and is taking the team to Cancun in the off-season.
Hunter Shumber is next in line to serve in Col. Sandala’s position at Norwin due to his ‘fiery spirit.’
“We are out to look for the best of the best,” said Shumber. “We walk around the school with aviators and park our motorcycles right next to the planes.”
Shumber left the interview, speeding away in his motorcycle yelling, “I feel a need… A NEED FOR SPEED.”
Norwin’s transportation budget in 2023-24 was $4.63 million. Norwin’s budget for transportation will approximate to $27,850,000,000 for the 2024-25 school year.
Norwin’s overall budget will increase to cover the cost for years to come. Norwin’s budget was $85.8 million in 2023-24. Norwin’s budget f0r the next 5 years will cross over $100 billion mark for the first time at $106,644,000,000.
Norwin Track and Field head coach Timothy Van Horn is happy about the change.
“It will take just 24 minutes to get to Shippensburg for our state meet next year,” said Van Horn. “Some kids had trouble transporting their metal spikes and javelins through TSA but by the time we got there it was bliss. Certainly better than the 3-hour drive.”
