Future FCHS plans mulled

Another step toward deciding whether to renovate the current Frankfort Community High School building or to construct an entirely new school building was taken Monday night at Paschedag Auditorium.

The Frankfort Community Unit School District 168 board and Superintendent Greg Goins were joined by FGM Architects representatives Greg Brown and Todd Hanger in the second community forum to allow for input from local residents and, in turn, to inform them of several potential ideas for the future of the high school.

Goins and FCUSD 168 Board President Jerry Eader allowed Brown and Hanger to lay out four option plans that have been designed by FGM, ranging from a basic remodeling of FCHS, to a pair of varying renovation plans all the way to the construction of a new school, built in a separate, yet-to-be-determined location.

Option one, the least intrusive of the four, would be a basic remodeling project that would not involve moving of any walls of the building. Classes would continue to largely be departmentalized, while no square footage would added. The classrooms and cafeteria would stay their current size, meaning the campus would remain open during lunch period. The focus of option number one would largely be on aesthetics and bringing the building up to code. All the buildings that make up FCHSthe main three-story structure, the gymnasium, the fitness center and the vocational buildingwould remain in use. The first phase of option one would begin in 2015 and the fourth and final phase would begin in 2018.

"What we mean by a remodel is that we would be addressing the health, safety and welfare items, applicable code items, exterior walls, interior, finished upgrades, as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades," explained Hanger.

The second option, renovation, would involve the demolition of walls and re-planning of the building while, again, keeping all the current buildings in play. Classroom size would be increased to closer to 750 square feet, with some some science rooms to around 1,000 square feet. Big changes in this option are the addition of a media center and increased cafeteria size, which would allow the campus to be closed during lunch, a point in which Goins has been directly in favor of throughout the forums. The construction schedule would be about the same.

"With the renovation option, now we are starting to tear down walls, trying to make classrooms the appropriate size, trying to make the cafeteria larger and trying to make those improvements that were identified," said Goins. "All the changes that would be made in both the remodel option and the renovation option are right here in this physical building."

Option three involves the renovations from option two, as well as additions to both the north side of the high school and Max Morris Gymnasium that total 14,000 square feet. The vocational building would still be used, but the fitness center (housed in the former Teen Town building) would be included in the addition to the gym along with a facility that could potentially house a room for the wrestling team. Brown said parking on the north side of the school would be eliminated to make room for the additions. This option would allow for separate rooms for band and vocal, which are currently housed in the same room on the first floor. Under option three classroom size would approach 775 square feet. Brown said this option could be completed in three phases beginning in 2015.

"This is what I would describe as a real "think outside of the box" concept," said Goins. "What we are talking about here with the renovation and addition is to build back (toward Popular Street) and build up to add more classroom space and have it meet our curriculum needs."

The fourth option is to reinvent FCHS as a totally new structure. The concept involves a a 140,000 square foot, single-story building that would house all of the current buildings that make up the school. The construction would be in a single complex. Vocational classes, parking and, potentially athletic fields and other areas would all be included in the new construction plan. Max Morris gym would remain in use, although practice facilities were included in the concept. A "cafetorium," a combination of a cafeteria and auditorium, would be included in the new building. Construction time is estimated at 16-18 months.

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Future FCHS plans mulled