New-look Naperville Central opens doors to community
Students have enjoyed the fully renovated Naperville Central High School for two months. Now school leaders are ready to unveil their $88 million baby to the community.
Naperville Unit District 203 will sponsor an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at the school, 440 W. Aurora Ave., to display 170,000 square feet of new construction and 370,000 square feet of renovated space, which includes a new entrance, new learning resource center, new athletic and music spaces, improved traffic flow inside and out and synthetic turf on the football field.
“I am excited to formally give people in our community the opportunity to see our newly renovated school. Many of the parents have already seen it (at school events),” Principal Bill Wiesbrook said Thursday. “However, people who live in the community who don’t have kids here may be curious to see it, and now they have a formal invitation to check it out.”
Doors open at 1 p.m., and the dedication ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. in the main gym. Guests can take a self-guided tour and listen to the school’s band and choir from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
District spokeswoman Susan Rice said band leader DJ Alstadt has “put together a special piece of music for the event” and two school board members will give brief presentations.
“We will have current students here to facilitate the event, along with former graduates, school board members, and most of the people that played a key role in making this happen,” Wiesbrook said. “I’m glad that many of the people who put in countless hours behind the scenes will have the opportunity to be recognized.”
Work began after voters in 2008 approved a tax increase. Half of the project was complete when students returned in August 2010, and the project was finished within days of the first day of this school year.
If you go
What: Dedication and ribbon cutting
When: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23
Where: Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave., Naperville
Why: The district wants to display the nearly $88 million in renovations and new construction the community approved in a 2008 tax increase.