Built some fifty years ago, Glenvar High School in western Roanoke County was due for a facelift and it got one – to the tune of about 24 million dollars.
The project, talked about for years, meant two years of construction, with students shuttling back and forth between mobile classrooms – “the trailer park” they all called it – and classes held at the adjacent and adjoining middle school.
Earlier this school year, the work was finally completed, and in late May the county celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Students, teachers and staff were commended for keeping an upbeat attitude during the process, which included muddy parking lots and less than ideal climate control in those trailers, not to mention jaunts to the restrooms in the cold and heat from those mobile classrooms which lacked facilities.
Superintendent Dr. Greg Killough noted that a science wing was added, along with a new library and kitchen/cafeteria. Existing classrooms were enlarged in most cases. Former Catawba school board member David Wymmer noted during the ceremony that the building was basically taken down “to the girders” during the construction process.
Killough lauded the “really good” relationship between the school board and the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors; for more than a decade both groups have set aside matching amounts of money to pay for debt service that has allowed schools to be rebuilt and new public libraries to go up.
“I think it’s a fabulous setup, especially if the money is used wisely to take care of facilities and upkeep,” said Killough, who arrived last year to succeed Lorraine Lange. She was also at the ribbon cutting since the Glenvar project started on her watch.
Killough’s first teaching job after college was at the old Glenvar High School, which is now “massively different” after the renovation and expansion project. “Seeing it now – it’s like ‘wow’ – this is what education needs to be [with] a top-rate facility and a beautiful setting.”
Glenvar High was also remodeled with upgraded technology as part of the package. “It allows for a lot of collaboration and creativity,” said Killough of the “new” school, “students are able to get together in little pods, having a library that’s set up for the new learning styles – being able to change [learning] spaces a lot.”
Principal Joe Hafey was all smiles as they cut the ribbon, with students and staff looking on from the parking lot outside the new main entrance to the school. He was also glad to see the front end loaders, dump trucks and bulldozers gone after two years. “We’ve got a great learning space [now]. Now we’re ready to get back to just teaching and learning, not worried about the daily dynamics [students and staff] were having to face.”
Hafey said students “were ready to get out of the trailers and in to the new space.” Seniors who had endured the project were able to spend the last few months at the new school.
Next up is the planned 30 million dollar renovation for Cave Spring High School, which has already been budgeted for. Killough estimates construction could start in about 18 months after the architectural and engineering work is completed. “I think we’re going to have a great school there also.”
Gene Marrano
