Teachers big fans of 'new' Naperville Central

For Jen Norgaard, touring Naperville Central was like déjà vu all over again.

The high school science teacher had butterflies in the 1990s when she entered the school as a freshman and again in 2005 when she came back as a faculty member. Wednesday morning, she expects them to return.

"We just toured the building, and I'm still afraid I'm not going to know where to go or be able to direct students," she said Monday afternoon. "But at the same time it's going to be really neat, as we get more comfortable and start to realize what's here now compared to what used to be in some spaces."

Norgaard was one of about 400 faculty and staff to tour the newly renovated high school for the first time Monday morning. The increased natural lighting, classroom size and overall design were given rave reviews.

"Everything feels brand new and we just have a lot of space," said fourth-year physical education teacher Tony Leaf. "We have a first-class education here and now we have a first-class school."

The wider hallways are also appreciated.

"The classrooms are bigger and better. The hallways are bigger and we're very happy about that," said counselor Linda Gross, who is entering her ninth year. "We're all going to be able to get from one side of the building to the other."

Math teacher Tony Schlorff said there's an energy and buzz among the staff. It's a buzz he hopes the students feed off once they get in.

Counselor Merigan Neben expects they will. She said the students deserve the state-of-the-art renovations.

"I can't wait to see the kids' faces once they get to see it," Neben said. "They have dealt with a lot inconveniences throughout the construction process and working with a building that is a little bit older and not perfectly situated to meet their needs before the renovation."

The 3,000-student school at 440 W. Aurora Ave. will open with a three-story, $87.7 million addition that will house all major subject areas. It also will have infrastructure upgrades, a new learning resource center, new athletic and music spaces, improved traffic flow inside and out and synthetic turf on the football field.

"It's just amazing," Principal Bill Wiesbrook said just before leading teachers on a tour Monday morning. "A lot of things have come together just right to make this a building we'll all be very proud of."

Before the tours, Superintendent Mark Mitrovich welcomed the entire district back during the district's annual "First Day" and encouraged them to "go make your magic" before releasing them to their schools.

"The thing about us in District 203 is that we're constantly seeking a balance between what we're capable of doing, what our students are capable of and knowing we have this reputation to maintain," he said. "It doesn't matter where I go, from the classroom to the bus garage, there is an esprit de corps in this district of people who hold themselves to a higher standard."

Classes begin Wednesday morning at all Naperville Unit District 203 schools.