Big plans for Geneva High discussed

A space just for gymnastics.

Another gym, with competition-suitable basketball courts, that could hold an additional six physical education classes.

A 1,000-seat theater.

The Geneva school board Monday night learned a little more about what an expanded Geneva High School could have, if voters approve borrowing money for Phase II of the district's facilities master plan.

Augie Battaglia, from FGM Architects, updated the board on the plans. Architects, school officials, teachers, board members and city officials have been meeting since early October to flesh out what they think a building that could hold 2,500 students should have.

The public will get to see more detailed plans at a meeting Jan. 21 at the high school.

Expansion of the high school is part of a three-phase facilities plan adopted by the board in 2006.

The first phase, now under way, was the building of two elementary schools and remodeling of others, with the intention of shuttering Coultrap Elementary School at the end of this school year and turning it into an administrative center. Coultrap, originally built as a high school in the 1920s, is the oldest building still in use as a school in the district.

The second phase, expansion of the high school, also calls for building an elementary school in the Settlements of LaFox subdivision on the western edge of the district.

Earlier this fall, the district discussed the possibility of pushing back the elementary school, as enrollment in the new subdivisions is not growing as quickly as was anticipated.

One theme that has emerged for the high school, Battaglia said, is that of "boulevards" in the building -- large passageways that cross it east to west, like the present "Viking Boulevard" in the center by the school offices. Two more would be created -- one for the PE/athletics area on the north end, and one for the performing arts area on the south end.

The plans shown Monday presume that the north wing of Coultrap Elementary, which is just south of the high school, would be torn down. The board has not decided that yet.

"Nothing is set in concrete," Battaglia said.

The wing, which was added in the 1970s, would make way for, among other things, a school bus parking lot, where 25 buses could pick up and drop off students. That lot would also serve as a practice area for the marching band, with convenient access to new music classrooms.

Presently, buses drop students off on a circle drive in front of the school, competing for space on Peyton Street with cars dropping off students.

The new gym would be on the north side of the building, to the east of the Mack Olson competition gym. A new gymnastics room would bridge the two on the second floor.

An existing theater would become a college-style lecture hall. There would be 20 additional classrooms, four more science labs, a new television production studio and new wood shop and industrial technology spaces. The library would be expanded.

"This process has been pretty exciting for us," Battaglia said.

In the facilities plan, expanding the high school was projected to cost at least $38.2 million.

The high school presently has 1,934 students enrolled, as of the beginning of the school year.