Building changes to bolster education at West Chicago High

Phase 2 of our long-range facility plan has begun.

This week, administrators began moving out of the administrative offices near the Commons to 157 W. Washington St., the former offices of the West Chicago Park District.

This includes the superintendent, the human resources department, and the business office staff. A domino effect of relocation and construction will take place as Phase 2 is implemented.

As soon as the district office staff moves out, three other office areas will be vacated to allow the construction of much-needed conference rooms. Maura Bridges, director of support services; Pete Martino, assistant principal for administrative services; and Marc Wolfe, division head of information and technology and activity director, will be moving to the administrative office area vacated by district office personnel. The construction to create the conference rooms will be completed during winter break.

The remaining construction will take place over the 2015 summer break. The ultimate goal of Phase 2 is to create a centralized student support services area in the current location of the administrative offices.

This student support center will house counselors, social workers, deans, psychologists and school resource officers. A college and career center for students also will be located here.

Students and parents will find it much easier to locate appropriate staff and find the resources they need.

Entrance H, on the south side of the building, in the location now occupied by the nurse's office, will be reconfigured so when visitors enter the building they will be greeted by a receptionist. From here, depending on their needs, parents will go through to the support services area or to another part of the building.

The nurse's office will be relocated to an area near the attendance office at Entrance A on the west side of the building.

The area currently housing the counselors will be transformed into a student activity center and bookstore, complete with a conference room for student groups to meet. Both the student support center and the student activity center will be adjacent the Commons (our lunch area), making it easily accessible to students.

This summer, Entrance H will be a construction site and therefore will be closed. Entry to the school over the summer will be at Entrance C on the west side of the building.

Phase 2 of the long-range facility plan is designed with the best interest of students in mind. We are excited to implement these changes. We hope you will be patient with us while we move staff out of and around the building to accommodate the construction as we create great spaces to educate, support and involve our students.

• Doug Domeracki is superintendent of Community High School District 94. His column appears monthly in Neighbor during the school year.