Lc Students Wonder About 2-Year Relocation

It’s hard to say what’s the bigger worry for the average Lewis and Clark High student - being displaced to a new building next year or downing a lunchtime Big Mac before the first bell.

Student emotions about attending classes at the historic Holley-Mason Building for the next two years are mixed. That is, for those with an opinion.

While some wonder about school spirit and the lack of lockers, others are still a little foggy on the details.

“Is it that Mason-Dixon - no - Mason-something place?” asks one sophomore as he heads for Taco Bell.

But for students who have heard the news - that Spokane School District officials signed a lease last week to house LC students at the Holley-Mason during renovation - there are real questions.

How will 1,500 kids feel a sense of solidarity in a strange new building?

“People are going to ask you where you go to school, and we’ll be like ‘Holley-Mason High,”’ said freshman Jacey Ogden, 15.

How will they live without lockers?

“We’ll have to carry our stuff around all day,” said freshman Colin Brogan.

And what is that Holley-Mason place, anyway?

“It’s a dump,” offers 14-year-old Brad Luce.

Actually, it’s a historic warehouse even older than the 1912-built LC. The Holley-Mason, 157 S. Howard, will be completely remodeled and rewired by owner Rob Brewster, himself an LC alumus.

The building must be ready for the district by Aug. 1 of next year, according to the lease.

Students will be shuttled between it and parts of LC as the school undergoes a $41 million renovation.

Next year’s move has become a hot topic in LC classrooms.

“We want to inform the kids as much as we can, especially the ninth-graders,” said teacher Norm Gall, who heads up the school’s social studies department. “They’re going to be displaced for two years, so they need information.”

Some teachers are even using the move as part of their lesson plans, he said. Global issues teachers are using the LC move as an example of transporting cultures.

Gall said the juniors seem most glum about the move.

“They are feeling a little bit out of the loop, so to speak,” he said. “It’s kind of like they’re in limbo.”

Junior Ryan Haley explains why: “I’ll be graduating out of that building next year,” he said. “I’m kind of upset about that. It’ll be my senior year. It would be nice to graduate from LC.”

Even some freshmen, who will be the first class to graduate from the renovated LC, say they’d rather not leave for two years.

“I don’t like having to change, moving around,” said freshman Jonathan Signer. “This building has a lot of history for us. That one has none.”

It’s that nostalgia - the names carved into the old school pool, the clock tower - students said they’ll most miss in the next two years.

“I like our school,” said junior Kim Fechner, congregating with friends under the freeway during lunch. “I like sitting down to (use the bathroom) and seeing old names on the wall.”

Still, others said they look forward to a seminew, improved Lewis and Clark.

“It’ll kind of be a hassle, since we’ve gotten used to this school,” said Cassie Boyd, 14. “But it’s OK. LC really needs the air conditioning to be fixed.”