Oakwood High School - Acorn Yearbook (Fithian, IL)

Page 12 text:

THE SCHOOL BOARD One of the hardest working organization through this school year has been the school board. With the disaster that struck our district last August, immediate action was needed to plan a workable school schedule for the coming year. Among the problems to be solved were (1) providing class space for over 250 students, (2) determination of the extent of damage to the old building, (3) the advisability of repairing or rebuilding, (4) the presentation of the bond issue to the public, and (5) the overwhelming task of planning and constructing a new building. Solutions required time, with frequent meetings that ran on late into the night. The job has progressed far along the course toward something tangible - - a new building. The school board has devoted its time in fulfillment of its public duty and as a measure of expression of civic pride. OUR PRINCIPAL When he was asked for a statement for the yearbook, Mr. Koontz studied the request for a moment and then said: Hectic. This one-word summation might well be considered the statement of the year, for it so aptly describes the sequence of dilemmas that have confronted our principal throughout the school year. Since his return to a badly damaged school building last August, Mr. Koontz has been forced to solve many immediate, near-insoluble school problems created as consequences of our disaster. In addition, there was the planning necessary for the future - - the restoration or rebuilding of our main building. Then followed the bond issue, building plans, and frequent meetings with the board to settle many issues related to the building project. This was beyond the myriad routine tasks that consume a principal's day. We are indeed fortunate in having a principal equal to the situation. Mr. Koontz, through his insight into the problems, and through his leadership, has handled the routine and the unusual in a very commendable manner. We have had a good school year, and in the near future we shall have a new building. THE ARCHITECT'S SKETCH On the adjacent page will be seen the architect's sketch of the half million dollar new Oakwood Township High School building. The old gym will be enclosed by the one story steel and glass structure. Passageways will join the gym and the agricultural-industrial arts building with the new main structure.

Page 11 text:

THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING The Board of Education, Mr. Koontz, the faculty, and the architect spent many hours planning, sketching, revising, and considering the financial problems related to the new Oakwood Township High School that will be under construction early this summer. The new building will replace a structure heavily damaged by an explosion last August Damage was so extensive that it was decided, when voters approved a $400,000 bond issue for rebuilding, to raze the old building. Funds from sale of the bonds and about $85,000 in insurance on the old school will finance the program. Plans prepared by Jack Blackman, Danville architect, call for use of three other existing buildings, which will be connected with the new unit by enclosed passages. They are a gymnasium built in 1935, the agricultural and industrial arts building erected in 1954 and the boiler room which was part of the original school structure. Features of the schools as it will be developed through the integration of present and new facilities will include: Ten academic classrooms, including a commercial department, in two wings; two science laboratories, 12 corridors with translucent plastic skydomes for lighting, 350 lockers built into the academic areas, library, conference rooms, cafeteria-study-hall-communitv room with a stage and storage space. Kitchen with two cafeteria serving lines, administrative area, faculty rooms, health rooms, a new gymnasium lobby, new locker room for girls, new band and chorus rooms. The boys' locker room in the gym building and the home economics department will be renovated. An acoustical ceiling will be installed in the gym, and portable bleachers seating 800 will be added. The gym floor will be widened. Masonry walls, face brick, haydite block and stone trim will be used, and the roof will be of rigid steel frame construction. Terrazo and asphalt tile floors will be laid on concrete, and window frames will be of steel.

Page 13 text:

C arenccGOcLAvooct C ct iS ZZ y cr 7 qy rxmd. Vbs?I3t jA' rA ZJorot hy ZJa Ay rt 'L (BO eVOOD ■T0VM5MIP i uicw scuax