As 792 students arrived at a new and improved Thomas Middle School in Arlington Heights Monday, adolescent angst was not on the agenda.
Instead, the final chapter of the $13.1 million renovation went off without a hitch, as wide-eyed students explored their new campus with gusto.
“I like the new building, but I don’t know where my classes are yet,” said 13-year-old Danielle Sheffer. “It’s really an experience for us.”
“The biggest thing the kids are worried about is having new locker combinations,” added 8th grade reading teacher Janelle Rogers. “We’re already reviewing for a test tomorrow–I don’t want them to miss a beat.”
At 7:30 a.m., Principal Charles Crissey joined 70 parent volunteers in greeting students and whisking them through a 110,000 square-foot building that barely resembles the original red-brick structure constructed in 1965.
A new 45,000-square-foot addition features six state-of-the-art science rooms, a spacious industrial technology room, two computer labs, a library-media center and multipurpose room.
Gleaming teal and royal blue lockers line the corridors, which are illuminated in part by natural light pouring through an abundance of windows.
Other touches include classrooms furnished with oak-trimmed furniture, new floors and ceilings, and a sophisticated electrical network capable of powering the school’s 120 computers and assorted multimedia components.
Crissey said he and his staff spent a full week tackling the behemoth task of moving out of the school’s temporary location at the former Rand School.
“Just imagine–every half hour, a moving van would be loaded with furniture and textbooks,” Crissey said. “It took at least 50 trips. But they did an excellent job.”
Though a few of the 4,000 cardboard boxes have yet to be unpacked, officials are thrilled to be back home for the holidays after spending 18 months in makeshift classrooms at Rand.
“With the increased amount of square footage, we can do a better job teaching,” said 7th language arts teacher Jim Schleker, who wore a T-shirt embellished with, “We survived the Thomas at Rand Experience.”
“We’re in heaven right now,” added 8th-grade social science teacher Rick Watson, who gathered with his fellow team teachers in a new planning room.
Peter Willcoxon, assistant superintendent for finance, also was breathing a sigh of relief as officials unveiled the transformed building, which is the last of the district’s nine schools to be renovated in the past eight years.
“We’re hoping this is it,” Willcoxon said. “There may be some tweaks needed because of enrollment changes, but we’re not seeing the need for any more major construction as far out as we can see.”
