Waynesboro High School: Fix it or build a new one?

WAYNESBORO — The building that houses a school becomes as important to a community as the activities that take place inside. The school building becomes an institution in itself and a local landmark. This is especially true when the building, like Waynesboro High School, has stood for 77 years. When considering how to update the school to fit the needs of the area the Waynesboro School Board has looked to the local community for their input.

A year ago OWPR Inc. Architects and Engineers of Blacksburg did a facilities study for the school division. The firm recommended renovations to two of the system's elementary schools and either renovating or constructing a new high school. Last fall, an 18-person committee, made up of students, educators and community members, was formed to evaluate the options given by OWPR. The committee decided that updates to Waynesboro High School were most urgent and recommended that a totally new school building be constructed.

The current Waynesboro High School was built in the 1930s. When it was completed in 1938, its student body was less than 400. Today, it houses nearly 900 students. The building has had three major renovations and additions over the years.

On Wednesday night, Waynesboro High School was opened to the public for a tour of the facilities, a presentation of possible solutions by the engineering firm and an open forum for community members to share their views.

"It's a major decision that will affect many future generations of students in the Waynesboro area," said Jeff Cassell, Waynesboro Public Schools superintendent. "We wanted to give the broader community an opportunity to have input and to have their involvement as much as possible."

The evening started with area residents taking a tour of the facilities. Room by room teachers detailed the school's deficiencies: crowded spaces, earthquake damaged walls, lack of running water in rooms, limited outlets to support the modern digital classroom.

"There's a push for more STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] classes, but we lack the space and facilities to teach those subjects as we should," teacher Dave Hennell told visitors in the Technology Foundations Lab located in the original 1930s part of the building.

"One of the biggest things in this room is the heating and air conditioning," said social studies teacher Laura Riggan. "It's either too hot or too cold, and that can be a distraction to the kids."`

"Many people come into our auditorium and gymnasium, but they don't always have the opportunity to see the other parts of the school," Cassell said. "We wanted to open the entire school to the public so that they could come and inform themselves."

Following the tour architect J.D. Price of OWPR gave a presentation on his company's suggested renovations.

"By and large the conditions found here will require extensive renovations," Price said

One limitation of the current high school is its location. The current site is 19 acres, which limits the space for adding additions or expanding parking. According to Cassell most newly constructed high schools require 40-50 acres of real estate.

"Parking is not sufficient for day-to-day activity, much less large events." Price noted. He estimated the facility requires 500-600 parking spaces. It currently has 232.

OWPR's recommended renovations include adding about 150 parking spaces, a new entrance and four additions to the building, including a new gymnasium and tearing down and completely replacing the 1974 addition. The renovations would mimic the existing architecture to preserve the aesthetic of the original building.

Price also displayed concept drawings of what a modern high school the size of Waynesboro would look like with an emphasis on safety, security and room for expansion.

Estimates for the needed renovations total $46 million. Price said that a new building will cost in the neighborhood of $74 million, plus the cost of the required real estate. Cassell said that the money would come from bonds, state Literary Fund Loans or Virginia Public School Authority grants.

It is estimated that renovations will take 22 months without students in the building, meaning that all or some of the school will have to be moved into mobile units or off-site. If the renovations take place with students present, Price said the process could take three or more years.

"It's difficult to renovate a three-story building that is occupied," Cassell said.

Following the presentation the floor was opened for public comments. Speakers addressed whether a renovation or new construction would be the most cost effective for local citizens and how a renovation would be disruptive to student's education.

"Are we going to get more bang for our buck if we renovation on this property or if we build a new school," asked Waynesboro resident Bill Kirkendall?

No improvements will be made to the elementary schools until the high school has been upgraded. Cassell said the elementary facilities will be adequate for several more years.

Funding of the original building was provided by a Public Works Administration grant during the Great Depression. It replaced the former high school just down the street that serves as the office of the Waynesboro Public Schools. Cassell said that in the case that a new high school would be constructed the current school building would revert to the possession of the city of Waynesboro.

The Waynesboro School Board will discuss plans for the high school at its scheduled meeting next Tuesday, and Cassell said he believes that a decision on whether to renovate the existing school or build a new one will be decided in the next few months.