Closer Look

New school build brings mixed feelings

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Anna Waskey

The high school that has held generations of Franklin’s students since it was first built in 1952 is in the process of demolition, with a brand-new school on its way. This reportedly exciting event is one that holds many opinions, many of which belong to the school’s current faculty.

“I am very much in favor of the new school. I think it’s an exciting time for Franklin High School (FHS) to have a new facility,” said Marty Greeble, library media specialist for the last 12 years.

Along with excitement toward new horizons, some have sentimental ties, like Pam Roper, the assistant principal of FHS. “There’s no doubt [I feel sentimental]. My parents went to school here; so did my family, and all my kids. I’ve been here for over 30 years. Every memory that I have just somehow connects to the school,” she reminisced.

Roper’s father, now in his 80s, has nostalgic ties to the FHS building, as she explained that “he can remember sitting on top of a hill at the old K-12 school, watching his dad build this school. But at some point, you have to choose the better option; this investment will benefit generations to come.”

FHS feels close to home

“I have been teaching for 35 years, [but] when I came to Franklin High School, I knew I had found the school I wished I had been teaching in for my whole teaching career,” Greeble stated. “I can feel the history in the library of all the students who have passed through here; it has a good feel.”

Although Spanish teacher Isaac Jay has only been teaching at FHS for three years, he is an alumnus of FHS. “I took Spanish in [the classroom where I teach now], so I’m sentimental towards it in that regard.”

Other teachers also reflected on their long-standing ties to the building. Robert Jessup, theatre teacher and past chorus director, has only ever known FHS, completing his student teaching in the same building in which he still teaches today, almost 20 years later. Jessup also met two of his adopted children for the first time in the Fine Arts Building.

“I remember [my wife] Amanda bringing them to the school when they first arrived to our family. My kids have always looked forward to going to school in this building, so it’s a little sentimental knowing that they won’t have that chance,” he recalled.

Construction logistics a challenge for some

Not only are individual teachers affected by the birth of a new high school, but specific departments are taking a toll as well. The FHS Agricultural Department was one of the first to be affected by the construction; their building was demolished, forcing them to move to trailer-style classrooms.

“It’s been a different dynamic; it’s not necessarily bad, it’s just different,” said Jenny Collins, agriculture teacher for 20 years. “We tend to be dirtier coming from farm visits, and we tend to be louder just because we’re doing a lot of activities outside. Merging with the rest of the school has been a big change. Losing our building was also sad; all that’s left of us is a wheelbarrow full of rocks.”

The Ag Building, as it was known, was home to various department events, from Future Farmers of America (FFA) events like Mr. and Miss FFA to their annual greenhouse sale.

“It was our whole culture, and now we have to reestablish our own new dynamic from scratch,” she added.

Not all results from the construction have been sentimental; across the board, teachers are generally in favor of the new school, expressing their hopes for potential improvements.

“With a new library, there will be a lot of opportunities for advancements in technology, which I think will help [students succeed],” commented Greeble.

The FHS campus has been in operation for almost three-quarters of a century and is reportedly showing the effects of time.

“I think it’s about time. I think we’ve been putting a band-aid on a wound for too long, and now it’s about time to address bigger problems,” said Jessup.

Focusing on the positives

As early as it is in the process, construction difficulties are not easily determined, but teachers have had no reported issues up to this point. “Construction has been pretty smooth so far, [but] I think it will get more interesting as they start work on the actual building, not just the field,” Jessup added.

“Carroll Daniel Construction is absolutely the best. They are very organized, they have everything separated so they don’t disturb the use of our campus, and they do what they say; they’re very good,” observed Greeble.

“This needs to be done for a lot of different reasons. I think our facilities don’t really house a lot of the programs we have to offer; as long as those opportunities grow, we [must] have a place to house them. I think the school is in a state where it’s a much better investment to rebuild rather than try to repair it,” said Roper.

Over the years, the FHS campus has been added to in efforts to house the growing curriculum available to students, but this comes at the cost of the school’s safety. “I think about the ability to have everyone in the same building; it’s incredibly beneficial [to the safety issue],” said Roper.

Collins agreed, “I think it’s important to have a new school because the new layout allows for the safety of the students. I mean, that’s the bottom line: to keep us safe, in one building.”

This progression in the community of Franklin is one that will have a lasting effect on generations to come.

“It’s important for the students to know that the county is investing in them,” concluded Roper.

Anna Waskey is an honors student at Franklin High School.