Public Views Washington High Renovations
By: Andrew Barra WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: September 30, 2012
WASHINGTON - The public is getting an inside look at the new Washington Community High School.
District 308 held an open house this afternoon to show off a multi-million dollar renovation.
And as WMBD's Andrew Barra explains -- its already been a hit for student and staff.
Almost two years ago - people in Washington passed a referendum for an improved high school . On Sunday- they got to see what their money paid for.
Superintendent Jim Dunnan says, " It's just been fantastic. It's been a long process, but well worth it. We're really excited about the facility."
With the school getting older and closer to capacity - the district knew it needed to make some changes.
Dunnan says, " We built a new edition which is thirty thousand square feet, but we remodeled thirty thousand square feet inside the previous building. We gained twelve new classrooms."
Student Council President Grant Cotner adds, " PE Classes no longer have to go outside. No longer have to eat down in the dungeon."
The District cut the ribbon to the new addition and gave the public a look inside their new school. This is many people's first look inside, but students and staff have already spent the last few weeks in it.
Cotner says, "Its truly been really great so far. The whole staff has been really encouragin and its been a great atmosphere with the new building. Its just been a great atmosphere."
They have all noticed that everyone's attitude has changed for the better since the start of the school year.
Cotner says, "The positive attitude of everyone involved has been really encouraging for the students just to do better and make the school great."
Teacher Lorelei Cox adds, "It's made a really big difference in the way kids behave. Kids are better behaved. It's orderly and quite place. The kids seem to really enjoy it."
And they hope that leads to better performance in a better school.
Cox says, "Its kind of early in the school year to tell this improved attitude and behavior will result in better performance, but I suspect probably it will."
Before renovations the school could hold up to 14-hundred students.
It can now hold more than two thousand.
District 308 held an open house this afternoon to show off a multi-million dollar renovation.
And as WMBD's Andrew Barra explains -- its already been a hit for student and staff.
Almost two years ago - people in Washington passed a referendum for an improved high school . On Sunday- they got to see what their money paid for.
Superintendent Jim Dunnan says, " It's just been fantastic. It's been a long process, but well worth it. We're really excited about the facility."
With the school getting older and closer to capacity - the district knew it needed to make some changes.
Dunnan says, " We built a new edition which is thirty thousand square feet, but we remodeled thirty thousand square feet inside the previous building. We gained twelve new classrooms."
Student Council President Grant Cotner adds, " PE Classes no longer have to go outside. No longer have to eat down in the dungeon."
The District cut the ribbon to the new addition and gave the public a look inside their new school. This is many people's first look inside, but students and staff have already spent the last few weeks in it.
Cotner says, "Its truly been really great so far. The whole staff has been really encouragin and its been a great atmosphere with the new building. Its just been a great atmosphere."
They have all noticed that everyone's attitude has changed for the better since the start of the school year.
Cotner says, "The positive attitude of everyone involved has been really encouraging for the students just to do better and make the school great."
Teacher Lorelei Cox adds, "It's made a really big difference in the way kids behave. Kids are better behaved. It's orderly and quite place. The kids seem to really enjoy it."
And they hope that leads to better performance in a better school.
Cox says, "Its kind of early in the school year to tell this improved attitude and behavior will result in better performance, but I suspect probably it will."
Before renovations the school could hold up to 14-hundred students.
It can now hold more than two thousand.
