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Huntley schools debut new facilities, principals on first day

Huntley schools welcomed roughly 9,600 students and 650 teachers Wednesday on the first day of classes.

Among the highlights this year is the opening of new a new cafeteria at Huntley High School, and two new principals at Heineman Middle School and Mackeben Elementary School.

"It's the best part of our job - getting to start school," Huntley Community School District 158 Superintendent John Burkey said.

Huntley High students inaugurated the revamped cafeteria/commons area - designed more like a college food court and expanded to accommodate an anticipated 2,200 to 2,500 students daily. The cafeteria now encompasses the former school library.

Students will be able to choose between eight and 10 entrees to make up their meal, including lots of healthy choices. The cafeteria will serve pasta, a variety of pizza, grilled chicken, hamburgers and cheeseburgers; there will be a deli bar and a daily special every day.

New features include a food bar serving hot and cold food and permanent cashier stations - using a touch screen point-of-sale system - that weren't in place for the first day, said Kevin Harris, Huntley High School's director of food services.

"We've kind of improvised with the carts," Harris said of the temporary cashier stations in use Wednesday.

The food bar also had been delayed, so officials temporarily installed the old salad bar in its place, he added.

Aside from those minor glitches, everything went smoothly for the start of school, officials said.

"There is a genuine excitement to be back," Principal Scott Rowe said. "I've heard a lot of 'this looks fantastic' and 'this looks cool.' It's been a very fun day. The facilities are going to be great."

The high school's new 55,800-square-foot field house, which includes a six-lane, 200-meter running track, also debuted Wednesday, though there was little athletic activity scheduled there on the first day of classes.

Library staff members are still moving in and organizing materials in the school's new Learning Resource Center, which is expected to open Monday.

Elsewhere in the district, Jake Litchfield started as the new principal at Heineman Middle School in Algonquin. He previously served as assistant principal at Marlowe Middle School in Lake in the Hills.

Anna Hoyou joined the district as principal at Mackeben Elementary School in Algonquin. Hoyou previously served as a principal in DeKalb.

  Huntley High School teacher Dennis Brown teaches criminal law Wednesday to juniors and seniors on the first day of classes. Roughly 650 teachers returned to classrooms. MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Huntley High School Principal Scott Rowe, left, talks with Dean Dan Farlik Wednesday during one of four lunch periods in a section of the expanded cafeteria/commons area where the library once stood. Officials expect between 2,200 and 2,500 students will use the cafeteria daily. MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Kevin Harris, Huntley High School's director of food services, discusses the newly renovated cafeteria with Christie Miller, an environmental health practitioner with the McHenry County Department of Health, on the first day students returned to classes. A few features, such as a new food bar serving hot and cold food and permanent cashier stations, were not ready for the first day, but will be soon, officials said. MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Huntley High School students check out at temporary cashier stations during one of four lunch periods on the first day of classes. A few features, such as a new food bar serving hot and cold food and three permanent, stainless steel cashier stations, were not ready for the first day, but will be soon, officials said. MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Huntley High School students check out food at temporary cashier stations in the newly revamped cafeteria until three permanent, stainless steel cashier stations are ready. MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Huntley High School students can choose between eight and 10 entrees to make up their meal, including lots of healthy choices, in the newly revamped cafeteria/commons area. Officials expect between 2,200 and 2,500 students will use the cafeteria daily. MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Huntley High School Principal Scott Rowe, left, and District 158 Superintendent John Burkey watch students navigate the new cafeteria/commons area during one of four lunch periods Wednesday on the first day students returned to classes. MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Huntley High School's new 55,800-square-foot field house, which includes a six-lane, 200-meter running track, is ready for play. MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Students do roll call for physical education class Wednesday at Huntley High School's new 55,800-square-foot field house, which includes a six-lane, 200-meter running track, on the first day of classes. MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
Jake Litchfield, new principal at Heineman Middle School in Algonquin, welcomes students Wednesday on the first day of classes. He previously served as assistant principal at Marlowe Middle School in Lake in the Hills. Courtesy of Huntley Community School District 158
Anna Hoyou, new principal at Mackeben Elementary School in Algonquin, greets parents Wednesday as they drop off their students on the first day of classes. Hoyou previously served as a principal in DeKalb. Courtesy of Huntley Community School District 158
Anna Hoyou, new principal at Mackeben Elementary School in Algonquin, talks to students Wednesday on the first day of classes. Hoyou previously served as a principal in DeKalb. Courtesy of Huntley Community School District 158
Jake Litchfield, new principal at Heineman Middle School in Algonquin, welcomes students Wednesday on the first day of classes. He previously served as assistant principal at Marlowe Middle School in Lake in the Hills. Courtesy of Huntley Community School District 158
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