By By Adrienne McKenzie
Much sweat and many hours have gone into transforming Escambia County High School into a “conducive environment” for learning.
ECHS principal Harvey Means said beautifying the facility is just one step in the right direction for learning.
There are many changes occurring at ECHS.
The Ninth Grade Academy will be the section of the school where incoming freshman will take their classes. This portion of the school has a fresh coat of paint, all the classrooms are numbered and the floors have been refurbished. Currently the classrooms in the Ninth Grade Academy do not have doors on them, but Means intends to change that.
Classrooms throughout the school currently have chalkboards in them that Means said are outdated. The school will soon have dry erase boards throughout the building.
Means said the majority of the bathrooms in the facility have been treated with a fresh coat of paint in order to remove the graffiti off the walls. The entrance area will be treated as a “historical hall,” displaying the history and achievements of the school, according to Means. The area will be decorated with some curtains and plants.
The lobby portion of the school is also undergoing an overhaul. The lobby will be adorned with furniture and a nice centerpiece.
Means said because the school’s auditorium is used by different organizations in the county, it will receive some polishing as well, from the outside in.
Inside the auditorium Means hopes to have the seats cleaned, painted or possibly replaced altogether.
The dressing rooms of the auditorium will be changed up as well, according to Means.
With all the energy that is being put into ECHS, Means said the staff will work hard to keep up the new look.
The administrative area of the school is being modified also. The offices will eventually have new ceramic tile and carpet installed, along with actual administrators switching locations to make the environment more beneficial to students.
A majority of the work has been completed at ECHS, but there is still much work to be done before school begins.
The wings will be freshly painted, thanks to the maintenance department and the Board of Education’s supplying paint and paint materials, Means said.
An overhaul to the appearance of the school is not the only change to be made at ECHS. A few big changes Means discussed are personal appearance, parking and attitude.
Means said students that are accustomed to parking in grocery store parking lots across the street from the school will no longer be permitted to do so.
The first day of school for students in the Escambia County school system will be Aug. 6.