Students enrolled at Hamilton Heights High School beginning next fall will have a unique opportunity to take a step back in time. They will attend class in the original high school building at 420 W. North St., Arcadia (built in 1957), and will be the last to do so. The school served as Hamilton Heights High School from 1957 to 1992 and the Middle School from 1993-2020. It is currently being transitioned to serve as Hamilton Heights Student Activity Center.
There have been many new improvements and additions to the learning, athletic and working environments at the high school over the past several years as part of Project Vision. These improvements have and will continue to benefit Heights students and staff for many years to come.
According to High School Principal Jarrod Mason, there are more projects on the horizon. “The next wave of renovations will involve many small projects that are the finishing touches to several years of major construction work,” explained Mason. “They include the following: Renovations to the art room and front offices, new hallway flooring (upstairs and down), existing terrazzo re-vitrified, burgundy lockers repainted, lighting and ceiling tiles in all classrooms replaced in all remaining areas including gym, gym floor sanded, refinished, and painted to match other new gym floors at new elementary and middle schools, restrooms updated, signage and entryway updated, Phase 2 of the Traffic Project to include North Parking lot and East Parking lot expansion, track and football ticket entry updated, and new tennis storage and shelter building.”
Knowing the multiple waves and phases of construction taking place throughout the high school that could take up to two years as the project approached its final phase, there was an “aha” moment: For the first semester of the 2020-21 school year, high school classes could be held at the former high school (for most current students, their former middle school). This decision would reduce disruptions to students and staff while shaving down that estimated completion time to about seven months, along with a cost savings. The old building provides space for all high school teachers, students and programming needs plus these students and teachers will literally be the last students to attend class there before the building takes on a new look and function.
Exterior projects at the high school are scheduled to begin as soon as the weather breaks in the spring of 2020 with an anticipated completion date prior to fall athletic events. Interior projects are set to begin June 1 and be completed by Dec. 18.
While there are a few logistical pieces that still need addressed, the temporary transition is expected to go smoothly. Mason said teachers are onboard and students think it’s kind of cool.
In terms of athletics, all outdoor fall athletics will still take place at the high school building as scheduled. Students without their own transportation will be bussed over after school. Volleyball will be held at the old middle school. By the time winter sports begin, the high school gym will be completed, and the plan is to have all winter sports back at the high school (boys and girls basketball, wrestling and swimming).
There is potential for certain classes to require items located only at the high school. For example, the greenhouse, the pool and some of the Project Lead the Way lab spaces will need to be accessed. Arrangements will be made with those classes and teachers to bring students back to utilize those spaces.
“We are looking ahead with anticipation and are excited about what these changes will bring,” added Mason. “What we initially thought may be a temporary inconvenience has turned out to be an opportunity for us to spend one last semester in a building that served as a strong educational institution for Heights students for more than six decades.”
All logistics are expected to be finalized and additional information shared by April 2020 to keep district families in the loop. For more information and the latest Project Vision updates, visit hhschuskies.org/domain/316.