The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Northwest Oklahoma 2

Related Photos

  • Heavy machinery tears up a parking lot at Hennessey High School to prepare the future site for a new district library and classrooms.

    Hennessey_Expansion_1_BH.jpg

  • Hennessey High School students spend time in the library, which officials say is inadequate for today’s students because of technology, space and safety concerns.

    Hennessey_Expansion_2_BH.jpg

Discussion

March 13, 2010

Changes in the air

New library, classrooms and renovations on tap

By Bridget Nash Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

HENNESSEY — Hennessey Public Schools students soon will have updated facilities thanks to voters who recently passed a district bond issue.

“We passed a $2.9 million bond issue in the fall,” Hennessey Superintendent Joe McCulley said.

A big part of the project is to build a new, stand-alone building that will house a new library media center and two new science classrooms.

“Technology has changed the world,” McCulley said. “Our science labs are what they were in the ’50s.”

The current school’s library is immediately inside the front doors of the building, with school offices down the hall and around a corner. That presents a safety issue, said McCulley, as safety was not the concern it is today when the original building was constructed.

“Our offices will be able to move where the library is,” said McCulley.

Parking will move to one side of the building for easier monitoring.

The new building will boast a larger library.

“Our library is extremely small,” said McCulley.

The new library will host about 30 computers, compared to the current seven, for a technology research lab and will hold more books and work space for book mending and maintenance.

Funds from the bond issue will allow the school to expand its cafeteria to house a concession area, which the school never has had.

New low-maintenance flooring, requiring no wax, will be laid throughout the school. There also will be a new roof and geothermal heating and cooling system for the school.

In addition to remodeling and the new building, the early childhood center will get new playground equipment.

As for the students, they aren’t exactly excited. Yet.

“I don’t think they understand the impact yet,” McCulley said. “The idea of new classrooms doesn’t always bring on enthusiasm.”

School officials are excited about the new projects, however, McCully said.

“We’re very fortunate we got the support of the community. Bond issues aren’t easy to pass,” he said.

The projects will start the first Monday of summer break.

“We don’t expect, we’re going to demand that things get rolling then,” he said.

The bond issue passed 412 votes to 204.

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Northwest Oklahoma 2
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