At North High, students discuss CTE, construction and a crowded hallway

The current renovations underway are for the courtyard, which comes next fall, and will be covered with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

By Ayanna Melander and Samiah Symone Sims, North High School

In 2025 North High School will be the newest renovated high school in the city. As for now, students and staff have entered the new school year with a completed CTE center, and now are facing the realities of navigating a construction site in between classes.

Last summer, North High School, one of the oldest in the state, started undergoing renovations after five decades of no changes to the property. Even water fountains were the same, dating back to the 1970’s. The first phase of the project was to build out the Career Technical Education (CTE) center. Construction of the CTE center was completed during the summer and classes became available for students to take this fall.

Now that the CTE Center is completed, North High is next in line to get a facelift while school is in full swing. North High journalism students spoke to a handful of staff and students to get their opinions on
the matter.

A new CTE classroom. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

Michael Roberts, a junior, takes a photography class in the CTE program.

“I really liked the new CTE wing that the school board has blessed us with,” Roberts said. “It's just an amazing space to work in.”

Kenneth Nelson was moved from teaching computer science at North to teach computer science at the CTE center this year. Large windows are something that Nelson is excited about, because before there were few in the building.

“The new addition of the windows is great because students get to see what their opportunities are, rather than just hearing about it,” Nelson said. “I think over the next couple of years it'll be worth it. But right now, it's kind of chaotic.”

As the CTE Center is less populated than the high school, he says the only downside is missing the bustle of the crowd of students. Although he is feeling isolated, he said the year is “Much worse for everybody on the other side of the building.”

The other side he is referring to is North High, where construction began this summer and will be ongoing throughout 2025.

North High currently only has one hallway to funnel students from one side to the other. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

While the CTE side of the building is completed with new classes like Photography, Robotic Drone Tech, and Principles of Engineering Design, the North High side has been narrowed down to one accessible hallway to get around the building. Enrollment has also spiked, making passing time a nightmare for staff and students alike.

“I think the construction will look nice when it's finished, it's gonna look nice, but the process is just a little hard,” Nakaiyah Abdullah, senior, said. “It makes me angry because I'm in the hallways with too many kids and it's not enough space. I don't like the tunnel.”

Students like Nakaiyah, who don’t take CTE classes, won’t be able to see changes in the school until 2025. For now, she's stuck in a crowded hallway. In addition to being a senior, it’s hard to be excited about things you won’t be there for.

A positive thing that she has seen, however, is how staff are adapting to the changes.

Dean CJ Johnson shares the same sentiments about finding passing time difficult for students and himself.

“The biggest concern is about how we get everybody through the tunnels and have enough space for each other,” Johnson said. “Everybody has to go through the tunnel. That's really the reality of it. There aren't two ways to get anywhere. Just one way to get to the other side of the building. But next year at this time, then it'll be better.”

Last year there was a large number of students getting ISS (in-school suspension) because of tardiness. This year, students being sent to ISS are predicted to drop because teachers have decided to give an unwritten grace period

He’s timed himself multiple times while walking from one end of the building to another.

“We’re excited for this to be done. So we're hopeful and optimistic,” said White. “We see what's been done, and it's beautiful so far. We're all impatient to have it done.” after passing time ends for students to get through the crowded halls.

“Passing time was extended to five minutes with an unwritten grace period,” Johnson said. We know it takes a long time for students to get from this room to that room.”

Assistant principal Steve White says it’s an ongoing puzzle that comes with change.

“It's fun solving the puzzle. But yeah, it's a little more cumbersome