After two years of dust flying and jackhammer noise within Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Student Council President Ella Debow knows her senior class may see more nuisance than benefit in the school’s recently completed $15 million expansion.
“When they first introduced this, it was kind of disappointing for some of the members — like it’s our senior year,” Debow said.
However, Debow was all smiles as she was handed a pair of big red scissors to cut the ribbon separating the old Stagg High School from the new. She said she and a select group of other students were included in project plans from the beginning, even getting to tour the expansion before the school invited 100 community members for Monday’s official opening.
“I just think it’s going to be so beneficial for years to come,” Debow said, “which is so much more important than us enjoying it.”
The expansion made way for 11 new classrooms, four science labs, seven offices, a 20-person conference room, a rooftop garden and teacher workspaces, according to High School District 230.
The work was informed by a study that found in comparison to other district high schools, Andrew in Tinley Park and Sandburg in Orland Park, Stagg had a high student to space ratio.
The district managed to fund the project without a tax referendum, instead selling bonds, using available working cash and tapping grant money, according to the district.
“Today is more than just the unveiling of a building,” Superintendent Robert Nolting said at the ribbon cutting. “It’s the realization of a dream, which was to create a space where students can learn, grow and thrive, where teachers can innovate and inspire, so our community can come together to celebrate education and achievement.”
One of the biggest effects, Debow and district administration said, was creating more hallway space to reduce congestion and make traveling the school easier for students. Those touring the school’s new square footage marveled at expansive chemistry labs and a shared teacher workspace.
The first phase of the project, on the campus’ south side, wrapped in the summer, so visitors could begin to see new classroom spaces in use. Construction was completed both while school was in session and during breaks, so students and staff often only had a wall separating them from the work at hand.
“Building a ship in a bottle — that is what the construction superintendent for contracting described the expansion project here at Stagg,” Principal Eric Olsen said. “Once the project started, I understood exactly what he meant.”
However, Olsen said, the expansion was beyond worthwhile, as Studio GC and Troop Construction as great partners. Those leading the charge included Nikki Bridges and Brian Otte, both Stagg alumni.
“Going to school here was a great experience for me, and I hope that the students can walk through these halls and … really enjoy this addition and learn and grow with it,” Bridges said. “Everybody here, Stagg staff and the district administration … really went to the next level, and just worked hard to make this a really special space for students and the community.”
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
