SOUTH WHITLEY - Whitko High School needs some maintenance, structure and security improvements.

Tonight and Tuesday, the Whitko Community School Corp. Board of Trustees will interview architects to help the school corporation study the school's improvement needs.

Jeff Hendrix, Whitko superintendent, said the school corporation needs an architect and engineering firm to come in and help the corporation study the high school to decide what steps to take. He said they don't know the true scope of the project because they are not sure how much money the school corporation will have for the project. Before anything is decided, the school board will host more public meetings for input on cost and needs. The school corporation will talk to the community, parents, teachers and students on the school's needs.

One of the security issues, Hendrix said, is the high school cafeteria. When a person from the public walks into the high school, they are immediately in the cafeteria, exposing the students to the public. "That's an issue," he said. He said he would like to change the front of the high school.

The school's boilers are old. There is a structural problem with an outside wall.

Some classrooms are overcrowded, so if money is available, Hendrix said, the school board may look at creating more instructional space.

Not all the lockers work right.

There is a possible list of issues he said the school board wants to look at, but they need to see what the community will support. The architectural and engineering firm will help study the finances and feasibility of a project.

The high school was built in 1972 and has had no major upgrades in years, Hendrix said.

Everything is in the early stages, he stressed. "Anything like this will be several months."

In January, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels issued a 120-day moratorium on school bond issues while new state guidelines are being established. Since Whitko is in the early stages of planning, Hendrix said, the moratorium wouldn't affect them. Plus, Whitko is not looking at building new athletic space or a gym, but looking at classroom space and improvements to heating and air conditioning, security and lockers. Those are items Hendrix said Daniels would be supportive of improving.

At the Feb. 28 school board meeting, Hendrix said, the school board likely will make their selection of the architectural firm. [[In-content Ad]]