A new era for Rogers

It wasn’t until after Nancy Lofgren McMurray graduated from Rogers in 1973 that she realized that some people had a negative opinion of her high school.

“People would say to me, ‘Oh, you went to Rogers.’ I think people from Rogers may have a bit of an inferiority complex. It’s understandable when kids across town have beautiful surroundings and here they are sitting in this run-down place.”

McMurray believes a $59.6 million renovation project will improve both the school and the students’ morale.

The day after school gets out – June 17 – plans will begin to take shape for the 18-month project that includes construction of new buildings and a major renovation of the existing three-story school at 1622 W. Wellesley Ave.

“It will be pretty cool. We’ll be the first class to graduate from the new school,” said Jesica Carpenter, freshman class vice president.

The current freshman class will be attending school through the entire rebuilding, which will transform Rogers from dated buildings to a state-of-the-art campus.

The class of 2009 also will do research in a new library, practice solos in a new music room and challenge competitors in new gyms.

The size of the Rogers campus allows the modernization to take place in phases, with the students remaining on campus.

“We can actually build new, move the kids into that, keep the outbuildings and redo the 1932 building, move everybody back in and then take down all the buildings to the east,” said Mark Anderson, associate superintendent of school support services.

Greg Forsyth, a math teacher at Rogers, has been involved with the project since the school bond was approved in March 2003.

“It’s been an incredible process,” said Forsyth. The summer of 2003 the district began working on a districtwide 50-year plan that established “education specs” and plans to create buildings where these specs would be implemented.

District administrators, the architects, general contractor, staff, students, alumni and the community were all involved in the Rogers design process.

“We all feel like we have our fingerprints on it,” said Principal Carole Meyer.

The new building is designed to last for 75 years. The school currently has 1,600 students.

The school’s main entrance will be relocated from Wellesley to the east on Pittsburg Street. A clock tower will be built as the focal point of the new entrance. Forsyth credits alumnus John Dixon with the clock tower idea, which symbolizes Rogers as a beacon in the Hillyard community. The front entrance of the 1932 building will become a ceremonial front door, open only during special events.

The 1950s and ‘60s-era buildings will be replaced by 165,000 square feet of new space, bring the total square footage to 250,000 square feet.

In addition to renovation and addition of new general academic classrooms, there will be a new commons/cafeteria seating 700 students (the current cafeteria seats only 300); 40 to 50 additional parking spaces; a large interior “Pirate’s Cove” courtyard for students; expanded facilities for visual and performing arts; replacement of industrial arts classrooms; new safety and security systems; and a new athletic/health and fitness center with improved locker rooms.

Carpenter is a three-sport athlete, and her eyes light up at the possibility of larger locker rooms and new gyms. “It’s so crowded in there now. You can’t even use the benches,” said Carpenter.

There are always challenges during a project like this, but everyone is very positive, and things are going smoothly, said Meyer. Limited parking will be a problem initially, but people can ride bikes or carpool. “We’ll just do what we need to do to get through it,” said Meyer.

The new building also will preserve Rogers’ history as one of Spokane’s original high schools.

“As we restore the 1932 building, we have been working with the city-county historic Landmarks Commission so that we renovate it in such a way that the school will be listed in the Register of Historic Places. It’s a prime example of the 1930 Art Deco period of architecture,” said Anderson. Garco Construction of Spokane is the general contractor and Northwest Architectural Co. is the architectural firm.

But the new school is more than a construction project.

“The building itself will reinvigorate pride in the neighborhood and pride in the students themselves,” said Forsyth.