Leon High to begin year in new school

This main hallway is wide and spacious with lots of windows and natural light. In less than two weeks classes will begin at Leon and most of the students will have new, or at least, different digs. The magnificent high school, including a new 1200 seat gymnasium, a black box theater and sound proof band hall, will be open for studies on August 23, 2010.

Matt Garner, high school principal, and J.D. Foley, the new junior high principal, supervise workers and teachers as books, equipment, computers etc. must be moved from the old high school into the new, so the junior high can move into the old high school. The fifth grade will then move into the old junior high building and pre-kindergarten through fourth grade will remain in the existing elementary building. Wow! Now that’s fruit basket turnover!!

Mark Xenakis, who has the title of Clerk of Works, proud- ly shows the facility as workers feverishly work to complete their jobs before school begins.

The new field house at Leon High provides many ways to build and improve the athletes. They are expecting a great year. “I am like the owners representative. I work for the school district to be sure that the tax payers get what they pay for” said Xenakis when explaining his position.

Xenakins confidently says everything will be finished by the beginning of school; however the gymnasium hardwood floor will need to cure and may not be available for a couple weeks after school starts.

The new school is built with an open concept where the cafeteria, hallways, classrooms and labs receive natural light. Xenakis boasts that overall maintenance will be low.

Additionally, in April 2010, the sports department moved into a brand new field house which is reported to have cost in the neighborhood of $1,200,000. The three teams, varsity, junior varsity and junior high each have separate locker rooms and all the players may use the well equipped weight room. Over the past few years the track and football field have been upgraded to beautiful condition.

Who cooks these days? The students at Leon are learning that lost art. This cooking lab provides ovens, ranges and microwaves to hone the students’ skills Principal Garner said he and the faculty are excited about beginning the new school year in the gleaming new facility.
This unique “black box” theater is set up with special lighting and sound.
The gymnasium will be completed by opening day of school but the hardwood floor must have a period to cure. The gym will hold 1,200 spectators. Sherry