Design Work Under Way For Renovated Lc

With architects already beginning designs for the Lewis and Clark High School remodeling, some teachers say their input into the project is being ignored.

While actual renovations to the city’s oldest school aren’t slated to begin for more than a year, preliminary designs are being drawn up by Northwest Architectural Co., which was hired last month to oversee the project.

The process isn’t without its stumbling blocks.

Some teachers are upset they’ll actually lose class space after the remodel. Others say the district hasn’t paid adequate attention to the building’s historical significance.

The remodel, which will cost about $41 million, will go to bid in 1999 and be finished in 2001. Some $18 million for the project comes from a bond passed in February, with an additional $9 million from district projects funds and the rest from state matching grants.

LC teachers have met almost weekly to discuss the remodeling, and submitted their wish lists for the revamped school.

“What we wanted people to do was dream and at the same time temper that with reality and with what resources we have,” said District 81 planning director Ned Hammond.

English and journalism teacher Eric Woodard put in his pitch for a darkroom.

“I figured the worst they could say is no,” he said. “Which they did.”

Woodard and others say the wish lists have generated some competition among teachers.

“Everybody’s jockeying for position,” he said. “Nobody wants to give anything up, and everybody wants more.”

Another teacher, who asked for anonymity, said staff suggestions are being ignored.

“Somehow the input we give is not coming out on the other side,” she said.

But Principal Mike Howson said the staff has been involved in planning.

“The whole process is kind of a conflict thing between wants and needs,” he said. “Everybody’s input is going in. It’s just everybody doesn’t get everything they want.”

Lead architect Steve McNutt said the process will actually help make classroom facilities more equitable.

“Everyone’s sort of sacrificed their slice of the pie in the sky,” said McNutt. “I don’t think there’s a lot of fluff left.”

McNutt said the plan is to bring most classrooms to about 850 square feet. That will mean increasing the size of some classrooms while making others smaller.

Hammond said staff suggestions have led to several other possible changes, including expanding science and art classrooms and doing away with the basement cafeteria, more commonly known as “the dungeon.” In its place, serving areas would be installed in upper-floor hallways. Most students sit in the halls to eat lunch.

But one thing is expected to remain the same - the school’s historic value. Lewis and Clark was placed on the national historic register in 1991, meaning several guidelines must be met when renovating the structure in order to maintain that status.

McNutt said architects will preserve the building’s exterior and the terrazzo floors and marble walls of the interior.

But confusion over the school’s place on the national register worried some teachers.

One teacher said McNutt told him he wasn’t aware the school was on the register.

“I was shocked, to say the least,” said the teacher, who asked for anonymity.

McNutt said last week he wasn’t told about the register until some weeks into planning.

But Hammond said all architectural firms who applied for the job were told of the historic status during interviews.

“We’re going to renovate it with all the historical sensitivity regardless of whether it’s on the register or off,” said McNutt. “The last thing we want is for this to look like a 1911 school on the outside, then walk through the doors and it looks like it’s 1999.”

Teresa Brum of the city’s historic preservation office said she has met with McNutt and will keep an eye on the LC renovation. But she said it is up to the district to follow federal guidelines.

“If changes are made that aren’t up to federal rehabilitation standards, the building could be disqualified from the register,” she said. “We’re interested in being a resource for them when questions come up.”

SPACE FOR STUDENTS UNDER STUDY Administrators are still working on where to put Lewis and Clark High School’s 1,550 students during the overhaul of the 1911 building. The district may ask to vacate a street near the school to bring in portables, or house students in nearby buildings. District 81 planning director Ned Hammond said students will still have to use some spaces in the old building, including the gym and locker rooms. “My goal is to get as many kids out of the school during renovation as possible,” Hammond said. Hammond said the district will have a preliminary plan for dealing with that issue within three weeks.