For the first time, people
in Fluvanna County are getting an up close look at their new high school. The school system hosted the first of two
guided tours for the general public Thursday.
There was a steady flow of
people throughout the morning to take part in the 45-minute tours, and it was
evident they are more than satisfied with how the new school turned out.
As students and parents
walked into the new Fluvanna County High School, the reaction was nothing short
of impressed.
"The thing that
surprised me were the lecture rooms," said 10th grade student Charlie
Charlton. "It almost feels like a
college or something bigger, it doesn't feel like a high school."
"Everything looks really
new and fresh. It's going to be a nice start for us," said 12th grade student Jake
Buonomo.
The most obvious
attraction is the extra space. Several
of the classrooms offer lecture style seating similar to a college setting.
Science and engineering
labs are stacked with the latest technology and multiple work centers. The new media center covers two levels. There's also a state-of-the-art weight room
for athletes.
Tour organizer and choral
director Horace Scruggs said, "The building that we're moving from, I believe
it opened in 76. Again the county was much smaller then, I believe that we were
right around 500 students at that point."
The new building will accommodate
more than twice that number, at about 1,400 students, with amenities like the auditorium
and gym serving as the hub for school events.
But some say the building's best feature is that it's built for the
future.
"At some point
students will be bringing laptops to school," Scruggs said. "Even though most students are doing that
now, we know that five, 10 years from now, that will be a commonplace thing."
Buonomo said, "So
excited. I cannot wait. I wish school started sooner actually."
The next tour is scheduled
for July 26 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.. There
will also be a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 5, a week before the kids go
back to school.
