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Renovating Macomb High School

Rich Egger
/
TSPR

Now that Macomb Middle School is open, the district can remodel the former junior-senior high to serve exclusively as a high school.

But it won’t happen right away. The faculty and staff at the school will spend the next year getting a feel for what should be done.

Superintendent Patrick Twomey said the building dates back to the 1970s, so they need time deciding how to bring it into the 21st century.

“There’s a lot of research out there now about what makes kids and teachers feel good about being inside a building. This building has almost none of that because of the age of the building. So, it will be a lot about aesthetics,” he said.

“Just a year or two or three down the road, we’ll be doing a major facelift for the high school.”

Twomey anticipates bringing in expert interior designers and engineers to offer recommendations on colors, signage, the layout, and the like.

Twomey also said that the opening of the middle school has created more space and a new energy at the district’s other schools.

“There’s a very positive vibe in every building. I think that’s just natural because before, all of these buildings were overcrowded,” he said.

“You can actually sense it when you’re in the buildings. You feel that there’s something different in there.”

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

Rich is TSPR's News Director.