The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-03
School Board Takes Final Step
for High School.
Also an Addition for Grant
School.

A spacious addition to the high
school building which has been the
| dream of the school officials for many
years is now assured. At the meeting
Of the board Of education Monday
night the preliminary plans presented
by j. C. Holland were accepted, and
the ARCHITECT was authorized to prepare
the complete plans and specifications.
The addition will be constructed i'm
mediately west of the present building
and will be approximately 62x14O feet
in size. Plans will also be completed
for an addition to the Grant school
building, and if there is sufficient
money on hand this improvement will
be made this year. Work on the high
school building is expected to start at
the close of the spring term Of school.
The plan as outlined is to convert
the present assembly room of the high
school into eight class rooms, four on
the main floor Of the hall and another
on a floor that will be constructed on
a level with the balcony. There will
be half dozen class rooms also in the
new portion Of the building which will
allow for the expansion OF the school.
Arrangements will be made in the
basement of the present building for a.
cafeteria. so that 1t will be possible to
hold longer sessions at the Institution.
In the west wing basement will be
a gymnasium approximately 62x134
feet in size. There will also be locker
and toilet facilities in the basement
of the addition.
The assembly hall will be on the
first floor and including the balcony
will have seating capacity Of fifteen
hundred. There will be two class
on the first floor and two on the sec
ond floor. There will be one large
room on the third floor.
From an architectural standpoint,
Mr.. Holland says. the building will
present better appearance than at
the present time. The front will be
more symmetrical than is now the
case.
Addition to Grant School.
The Grant school plans call for an
addition to the south end of the pre-
sent structure. If the improvement is
made there will be a gymnasium in
the basement aside from toilet rooms.
an additional class room and boiler
space. On the first. floor as planned
there will be one large and one small
30x6O feet in size, and with a seating
capacity Of ESQ, is the feature Of the
second floor according to the prelim-
mary plans. The style of roof has not
as yet been decided upon.
The board favored the use of the
old Van Buren, school building at the
corner OF Eighteenth and Van Buren,
streets-or at least a part Of it-for a
clubhouse Tor boys In the South side
district A request was made that the
building be used for such a purpose.
At the present time the building is
used for storage purposes only.
Penwelps Suggestions.
L. M. Penwell. chairman of the
building committee, presented two
bargain counter" suggestions. He
recommended the purchase of three
steam boilers, almost new. for $500.
The original price, 1t was stated, was
nearly four times that amount. He
also proposed that three Waterbury
heaters. new and worth much more
than the price ed-$1O5-should
be purchased. The boilers and heat
ers will he bought
Is $57,OO5 in the Treasury.
The report of the treasurer showed
that there was on hand the first of
the month in the different funds a to-
tai Of $57,005.57. THIS money was
distributed as follows: General fund,
$22.243.6s; sinking fund. SIS. so2.7s:
building fund, $11.644.40; retirement
fund, $351.55: interest fund. $4.463.05.
The bills for the month aggregated
$30,525.58. OF this amount $25, 051.0S
was for fixed salaries.