Ike Students, Teachers Excited to Start School

For students and staff at Eisenhower High School going back to school may not be so bad.

Ryan Froula spent nearly 20 years teaching at the old Eisenhower High School building, which had been there since the 1950s. Now standing in a new modern classroom, Mr. Froula isn't sad to leave the old "Ike" behind.

"I was in a portable at Eisenhower that was jammed and enclosed, and it had all kinds of issues," said Froula. "And it didn't have the technology readily available."

"So much more benefits to it. and they added classes on as well," said Leah Shannon, a student.

The brand new 327,000 square foot building is almost complete and will be ready for students next week when the new school year starts.

The auditorium fits almost 500 more people than the old one. The large commons area connects to an outside courtyard and sustainable as well as accessible technology can be found in every classroom.

"Their new classroom furniture with technology that works and by that I mean ultra short throw projectors being connected to the computers, the teachers ability to connect to the Internet and essentially bring the world into that classroom," said Jim Wright, the Construction Planning Principal.

Teachers hope the contemporary feel will influence students to be more proactive about their education. "Excitement of a new school and being able to come here might keep kids in the building a little bit longer, might not try and take off and skip out and get themselves in trouble with absenteeism and so on." said Froula.

School district staff said the public can rent out the theater or common area for their own personal events. The public can take a tour of the building on the day of the official dedication October 10th.