People filled the new stadium-style seating to check out Elmwood Park High School’s expansion Wednesday evening.
Residents, school officials and village officials visited the Aug. 19 open house to take a look at the school’s newly completed expansion project.
The high school’s main addition was a new set of state-of-the-art science labs, additional classrooms and more space for students to collaborate and work together on science-related projects.
Kevin Anderson, superintendent of Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401, acted as the master of ceremonies, acknowledging all of the village and school officials in attendance and those from surrounding communities.
Previously, he had said he wasn’t sure that the school would be ready for the first day of school, which was Aug. 17.
“We have new windows and doors, a new drop-off area,” he said. “It’s a total face-lift for the front of the building.”
Peter Volpe, a member of the school district’s board, said he is pleased with the finished product, inside and out.
“It’s better than expected,” he said. “It seemed like we just started yesterday.”
Mary Bruscato, president of the school board, said the new space will be a motivational tool for the students.
“I can’t wait for these kids to come here, because it’s all positive,” she said.
James Jennings, principal of the high school, has already seen an increase in students wanting to take science and advanced science classes so they can attend classes in the new rooms.
There’s a little bit of tidying up to be done, but overall, he said the new learning environment is ready for the students.
“It’s advancing it [science classes] even more,” Jennings said. “It provides them an opportunity to see what the possibilities are.”
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