Administrators pleased with new Haber Oaks school

From the Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Administrators pleased with new Haber Oaks school
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

CARY – Freshly painted, warm colored walls. Large windows with a clear view of more than three acres of green grass and autumn trees.

Sound like a dream home? Nope, just a typical school day for about 70 high school students at District 155's new Haber Oaks Campus.

Administrators got a chance to walk through the newly renovated school Wednesday at an open house event. The new school, previously an under-used Cary District 26 administrative building, is the new home to District 155's alternative learning program.

"We gutted this building," said Debbi Cleary, special services director for the district. "The only things that are the same are the main hallway walls."

The renovations cost about $800,000 and were completed in late August, said John Lutsch, assistant superintendent for business and finance.

Among the renovations to the building are repainted walls, re-tiled floor, indoor carpeting, installation of a sprinkler system and many of the walls were knocked down to create new rooms. There are nine classrooms and four breakout rooms, plus an art room, counselor offices and lockers for the students.

Most of the classrooms have large windows along at least one of the walls and white dry erase boards instead of chalk boards.

"With all the natural light ... it really gives a nice, warm feeling," said Mike Sayre, a teacher at the school.

High school students in the district's alternative school programs have class in the Haber Oaks building, 400 Haber Road.

Thirty-one high school students in grades 9 through 12 are in a program called The Academy. This program is for students with behavioral and emotional issues, according to the District 155 Web site.

Forty students attend classes at the school as part of the Annex Alternative Education Program, for high school juniors and seniors who are behind in credits, Cleary said. As part of the program, students have a shortened school day and must have a job outside of school.

Previously, Annex students went to classes in the lower level of the District 155 Center for Education building. Academy students went to class next door to center, in a building the district rented.

"I think it [effects] their self esteem," Cleary said. "The district saw there was a need to get them out of the basement."

Teachers said not only is the new building more aesthetically pleasing, it's helped improve students' moods.

"It really helps just with the overall attitude," Sayre said.

Wednesday's event was the second of three open house events that took place since the school opened in August. An open house for parents was in August, at the start of the school year, and there will be an open house for residents in the school's neighborhood Oct. 22.

If you go:
What: Haber Oaks Campus open house for community members.
When: 3:30 to 5 p.m., Oct. 22.
Where: 400 Haber Road, Cary.